MTN Foundation has awarded scholarships to 360 undergraduate Nigerian students in addition to 651 current scholars, totalling 1,011 scholars through its annual scholarship initiative.
Award ceremonies were held in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja to celebrate the awardees recently. Dignitaries such as Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Abdulkabir Ogungbo, Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University, Professor Nlerum Okogbule, Chairman, House Committee on Telecommunications, Peter Akpatason and others were present at the various ceremonies.
The annual scholarships recognise and reward high-performing students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions.
The scholarships are usually awarded to three categories of students. Undergraduates in science and technology-related courses; blind students in any field of study and the top 10 candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Nigeria. Through this initiative, 4,590 Nigerian students have received scholarships valued at NGN 3 billion in the last 12 years.
In his speech at the Lagos ceremony, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, the Chairman of MTN Foundation, said, “This initiative was established with the belief that every individual – regardless of background or socio-economic status deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams through education, which has a profound impact on shaping minds, fostering innovation and driving societal change.
“It is imperative to empower the next generation of trailblazers, problem solvers and African visionaries. This is why we support blind students, top 10 UTME candidates and top-performing STEM students by facilitating access to education and providing tools and resources to help them thrive academically and professionally,” he said.
The Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, in his speech delivered by Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Taxation and Revenue, Abdulkabir Ogungbo, commended the Foundation for its commitment to contribution to the development of its host communities.
He said, “I am delighted with the level of commitment of MTN to contributing to the growth and development of its host communities in terms of human and infrastructure development. Today’s ceremony, awarding scholarships to deserving recipients and the induction of past beneficiaries into the scholarship alumni, is a commendable gesture and indicative of their corporate social responsibility.”
