MTN Foundation Clocks 10, Eyes Greater Impact

The Managing Director of MTN Nigeria Michael Ikpoki has declared that service is at the core of everything the telecom giant does, whether it is offering world class telecommunication products to Nigerians or even the establishment of its foundation, the MTN Foundation.

He said this at the elaborate dinner organized by the Foundation as part of activities lined up to mark its 10th anniversary in Lagos.

The event which attracted Nigerians from all walks of life was an opportunity for the foundation to disclose how far it has come in the last ten years and what more it plans to accomplish in the future.

Chairman Board of the MTN Foundation, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi recalled that the foundation was set up ten years ago to improve the quality of lives of Nigerians. And over the years the foundation has made remarkable impact through the implementation much needed social investments across all parts of the country.

Till date, over 11 billion has been spent by the foundation on the company’s numerous Corporate Social Responsibility interventions and the chairman added that even more will be achieved in the coming years. At the last count the charitable outfit has projects across 344 project sites in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Recalling events that transpired in the early days before the foundation commenced, NonnyUgboma, Executive Secretary, MTNF noted that “MTN conducted an in-depth research to find out the primary needs of Nigerians and how best it can give back.

From the research conducted by Phillips Consulting, we were able to identify three basic areas: education, health and economic empowerment. With this foresight, we invited key stakeholders from the education, health, and poverty alleviation agencies, to brainstorm and develop a framework for the activities of the MTN Foundation. That meeting was very instrumental in setting the tone for the Foundation.”

One of the most remarkable feats of the foundation is the MTNF-MUSON Music Scholars Programme, where people with music talents are given a rare opportunity to study music at the prestigious Music Society of Nigeria, aka MUSON.

MTNF sponsors up to 60 students in a year and in the last nine years, the programme has produced 212 music scholars who have received exposure in creating world class music. And only recently, some of the awardees competed with the rest of the world in Europe and won medals.

The foundation has also supported education by giving scholarships to students across board and ensuring that schools in Nigeria are well equipped to impart knowledge. But perhaps the most touching story of the night was that of Master Great Nkor who was a victim of a major domestic fire that almost took his life. At one year and three months, Great suffered a third degree burn in a domestic fire accident. After undergoing 11 operations and getting as much help as they could from good natured members of the public, his parents were exhausted financially, still more medical interventions were still required for Great to come as close as possible to a normal life.

Having no one to turn to, his parents became frustrated and began giving up on getting the best help for their distraught son, at that point someone called in and introduced them to the MTN Foundation.

“The journey with MTNF began when a lady I did not know suggested I write to the Foundation. I wrote the letter and I took it there myself, then we heard from MTNF that the Management had approved that some funds be released for Great’s treatment. MTNF got the doctor, the hospital and did everything,” Mrs. Nkor recounted.

Thanks to that intervention Great is able to lead a normal life, he is doing well in school and very excited about the future. The foundation which is annually allocated one percent of MTN Nigeria profit after tax is looking forward to another decade of impacting the lives of Nigeria.