It was a good idea for MTN Nigeria to launch the BetterMe app, because as of now it is described as innovative and a milestone in voter education and engagement towards enhancing and deepening Nigeria’s electoral process.
The app, which is available to over 60 million MTN subscribers, has a vast and robust content offering including segments on the 2015 elections, among others. The new app enables subscribers to seamlessly access information relating to the elections, from the comfort of their mobile phones. A subscriber can access information on candidates for the elections, their plans and manifestoes as well as the strategic thrust and policy direction of the various political parties, among others from the convenience of the mobile phone.
The segment on the 2015 election of the BetterMe app is a collaborative effort of the Independent National Electoral Commission, National Orientation Agency and MTN Nigeria.
Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, Director, Voter Education, INEC said: “When the idea was mooted, we were quite excited because of the positive benefits that the app has in engaging the voter and enhancing their participation in the electoral process.”
He said that INEC went into partnership with MTN because of the reach of its network. According to him, the app has unusual application for security agencies, election observers, among other stakeholders in the electoral process.
“The BetterMe app is one among several unique initiatives MTN has introduced to enable its subscribers derive more value from the internet,” said Richard Iweanoge, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria. “With the BetterMe app in mobile phones, it is easy to get info about the election, whether it is about parties, manifestoes or the candidates. What we are doing is enabling access, opening the window to lots of useful information.”
The BetterMe app was introduced at the beginning of the year as part of a bundle offer to avail MTN’s subscribers more value while accessing the internet. The offer includes airtime and data bundle, with the Betterme app as a unique platform for accessing useful content as useful information would have been aggregated on the BetterMe app.