Telecom Zain Nigeria announced last week that it would adopt a “lean strategy” as part of a “realignment of its business model” in line with that of its parent company, Zain Group, which has invested roughly $12bn in Africa since 2005 (including $4bn alone in Nigeria since 2006) and is implementing a new “Drive 2011″ business model across all sister companies in order to become a top 10 global mobile operator by 2011 with 150m customers and an EBITDA of $6bn. Essentially, this equates to the outsourcing of non-core functions. “Through a combination of managed outsourcing, standardization and centralization, Zain is striving to improve efficiencies, leverage capabilities and improve training and development for employees of Zain,” said Emeka Oparah, head of corporate communications.