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Tag: MTN FOUNDATION

  • Ambode reiterates zero tolerance to noise pollution

    Ambode reiterates zero tolerance to noise pollution

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday restated the government’s resolve to enforce relevant regulations on noise pollution in the state.

    He made the remarks when the MTN Foundation distributed 250 hearing aid devices to beneficiaries in the state, including children less than one year old.

    The Governor who was represented by his Special Adviser on Primary Health, Dr. Femi Onanuga, stressed that no individual or corporate organisation would be spared in government’s renewed onslaught against defaulters.

    He urged the 250 beneficiaries of the MTN Foundation Hearing Aid support project in Lagos State to join the crusade of campaign against noise pollution in the society.

    It is the first phase of MTN Hearing Aid Support Project, during which 1,500 devices will be distributed to hard-of-hearing persons in six states of the country.

    Also speaking, Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, described MTN as a company with a high sense of commitment to the execution of corporate social responsibilities.

    Handing the device to some beneficiaries, Mrs. Ambode said, “All these years, the company has maintained a clear lead in diligent fulfillment of its social covenant with the people and society. Its outreaches had touched a large percentage of the population across all age categories”.

    She hinted that coincidentally, the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), would do a similar programme later in the year, urging the beneficiaries to use the devices as instructed and also handle them with care.

    Speaking earlier, the Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Denis Okoro stressed the commitment of the foundation to continuous upliftment of the welfare of challenged persons.

    He also thanked the State Government for being the first to establish a department totally dedicated to overseeing the welfare of challenged persons.

  • WCWDT: MTN Foundation thanks nominators, launches Phase 2

    WCWDT: MTN Foundation thanks nominators, launches Phase 2

    It was a night of glamour as the MTN Foundation held a special event to appreciate and honour 200 nominators, who recommended their communities for intervention projects in the Phase 1 of the What Can We Do Together (WCWDT) initiative.

    Well-attended by distinguish members of the Nigerian National Assembly led by the Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Hon. Fijabi Saheed Akinade, the event marked the end of the project’s Phase 1 and the launch of Phase 2.

    In the Phase 1, 200 projects were successfully delivered in 200 communities across 200 Local Government Areas in the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The projects focused on four major areas which were: electricity transformer, bore-hole, school furniture and household item donations to select orphanages.

    For the What Can We Do Together Phase 2, the focus is on: electricity transformer, bore-hole, school furniture and medical supply donations to community health care centres. Nominations for this phase commenced on May 12, 2016 and will run till June 1, 2016. Nigerians can send in their nominations by texting MTN Foundation to 321 or follow the link.

    Speaking at the event, MTNF Chairman, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi said, “The What Can We Do Together project is a unique one. It’s a project we cherish so dearly, because it is for Nigerians and by Nigerians. We at the MTN Foundation are pleased that we have this opportunity to impact the lives of Nigerians across the country and we thank the Government for their support, and all our partners for making this possible.”

    In her comment, MTN Executive and Director of the MTN Foundation, Amina Oyagbola, said, “Over 36,000 nominations were received in three weeks in phase 1. The eventual selection of 200 communities as beneficiaries was done after a rigorous vetting process. The experience of this project is awesome and it was very fulfilling to see the smiles and cheers of people in the various communities we visited.

    “We are happy to have worked with the various nominators who are change agents in their communities to positively impact lives and we congratulate all the 200 nominators. Due to the success of the phase 1 and our continuous commitment to support government’s efforts in improving the quality of lives among Nigerians, we have launched Phase 2 of the ‘What Can We Do Together’ initiative.  Again, we use this medium to call on Nigerians to nominate their communities to benefit from this initiative.”

    In the coming weeks, the MTNF Appreciation party will be held in Owerri, Port Harcourt, Kaduna and a grand finale in Lagos to recognize and appreciate other nominators from other regions.

  • MTN foundation eulogises late pioneer chairman, Hamzat

    The death of Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu, CON, (Walin Sokoto), marks the departure of one of Nigeria’s most widely respected and valuable public officers who over the last sixty years, made his mark in both public and private sectors, at home and abroad.
    The immediate past chairman of the MTN Foundation (MTNF), Ahmadu was an accomplished diplomat who distinguished himself in all his endeavours.
    He served as Personal Secretary to two Nigerian leaders – General Aguiyi Ironsi and General Yakubu Gowon. He also served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Germany, France and the former USSR (Union of Soviet Specialist Republics).
    Following his retirement from service, Ambassador Ahmadu served Nigeria in several other capacities. He held the position of the first Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka from 1991-2002.
    He was the Chairman of A.G Leventis (Nigeria) Plc; Chairman, Board of Directors of International Trust Bank Plc (1992-2006); Chairman, Board of Governors of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto; Member Advisory Committee on National Honours and Awards and Leader of the Sokoto State Delegation to the National Political Reform Conference 2005.
    Similarly, he was Member, Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) on International Relations; Member, Board of NCR Plc and She and Council Member, Royal Commonwealth Society of London.
    Under his inspired leadership as the pioneering chairman of the MTN Foundation, the Foundation achieved great success. It was during his 10-year tenure as Chairman that the Foundation successfully rolled out different projects across the 36 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
    Speaking on the demise of Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu, MTN Executive and Director of the MTN Foundation, Mrs Amina Oyagbola, described Ahmadu as a truly passionate Nigerian whose invaluable contributions to issues of national interest will be greatly missed.
    “We condole with the family and pray for the fortitude to bear this great loss. We appreciate his immense contributions towards the growth of the MTN Foundation and its reputation today, for sustainable, wide-impact initiatives which continue to transform the communities in which we operate.
    “Ambassador Ahmadu’s wisdom, foresight and guidance were incredible and we are honoured to have had him as the pioneering chairman of the Foundation,” Oyagbola said.
    Describing Ahmadu as objective and principled in thought and approach, the Executive Secretary MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma said: “We will miss this special member of the MTN Foundation family who stood tall in his desire to improve the standard of living of Nigerians and indeed contribute his quota to the cause of humanity at large.
    When it came to approving projects for the Foundation, he did everything possible to ensure that the approval process is fast tracked and that beneficiaries experienced the relief for which the project was designed.
    “You could always see the satisfaction he gained from knowing that the quality of life for many would improve because of the various interventions in Health, Education and Economic Empowerment.”
    It will be recalled that Ambassador Ahmadu died in Lagos at the age of 92 and has since been laid to rest in his home-town, Gwadabawa in Sokoto State according to Muslim rites.

  • 20, 000 beneficiaries of MTN Foundation count blessings

    In what may easily be described as a show of gratitude, scores of beneficiaries of MTN Foundation Empowerment Schemes across the country, especially the care and support for persons with disabilities have continued to count their blessings and good fortunes.

    One of such beneficiaries is Mrs Foluke Idowu, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Living for People with Disability (ILP), in Ibadan.

    Speaking in an interview, ILP boss said the MTN Foundation gives between 3,000 and 5,000 assisting devices in each of the phases of its assistance in partnership with the ILP, adding that 12 states were captured in each of the phase with over 20,000 beneficiaries.

    While lauding the MTN Foundation for the kind gestures, she said: “I have always advocated that as part of the corporate social responsibility for companies, there is need for them to invest in people with disabilities in their various communities.

    “I did an initial situation analysis and discovered that many people with disability lack mobility aids such as wheelchair, tricycles, and wheel machines among other items. Based on my findings, I wrote a proposal to MTN Foundation for an intervention for people with disability in 13 states of the Federation.

    “Fortunately, the proposal was accepted and the project has grown to be a yearly event beyond the initial 12 states including the FCT Abuja. For effective execution, we decided that 2 states in each geo-political zones and the FCT would be beneficiaries of the first phase with a steady spread across the remaining parts of the geo-political.”

    Mrs Idowu, who had been on the wheelchair for the past 30 years as a result of road crash, said with the assisting devices, some of the physically challenged could get employment, start their own businesses like shoemaking, selling recharge cards and being able to further their education while some could get married.

    Speaking on her partnership with the foundation, Mrs Idowu said she wrote a proposal intimating the foundation of many physically challenged lacking mobility aides and appliances such as wheelchair, tricycle, crouches, Braille machine and walking sticks, adding that after many evaluation and assessment, the proposal was accepted and expanded to cover all the states in the country.

    “One thing I could say I have achieved was to shift the focus of MTN Foundation’s corporate social responsibility to the need of the physically challenged.

    Going down memory lane, she recalled that the challenges faced while changing people’s perception about disability. “It is a very difficult one because it could be traced to the tradition, culture, ethics and belief of people. Some people believe that you experience disability because one is cursed or has sinned. There are so many reasons that surround the phobia and it makes it very difficult to change the perception of people about disability.”

    On the operations of the ILP, she said “In all the 36 states, we have the field officers that have been trained to collate data. We have vulnerability assessment form while we ensure reaches all the local governments in the country. We also interview those with disability to be sure of the aide to give and deliver it according to experts’ specification.”

    An elated Mrs Idowu who was effusive with praises for MTN Foundation said: “There is hardly no one that has ever been touched out of the over 20,000 beneficiaries that we have given mobility aids and assisted devices to. We first of all begin with the most vulnerable through the Vulnerability Index Assessment term, for instance, someone who cannot make use of the hands and legs is of higher priority than those who can.

  • MTN Foundation unveils new initiative

    MTN Foundation (MTNF) has launched a new initiative tagged “#WhatCanWeDoTogether? on its 10th anniversary celebration in an effort to help more Nigerians live a better life.

    With the #WhatCanWeDoTogether? Initiative, the Foundation will implement 200 projects in 200 communities across 200 LGAs in Nigeria.

    For a project to be done in a community, people in the community are expected to register the community name and their preferred project, guided by the prompts that follow after dialing the specified code.

    The Executive Secretary, MTNF, Nonny Ugboma, at the launch of the initiative over the weekend in Lagos said:?”You can change your community for good with your phone  simply by dialing *123*14# or visit http://foundation.mtnonline.com/do-together.

    “By partnering with the MTN Foundation, a community of your choice could be a beneficiary of any of 200 projects to be implemented in 200 communities across 200 LGAs in the country. These projects could be any of the following: provision of school furniture, boreholes, transformers or household items for orphanages.”

    Ugboma said the initiative is a demonstration of the Foundation’s commitment to continue to compliment government’s efforts in ways that can improve project development in various communities across the country.

    Commenting, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN Nigeria, Akinwale Goodluck, based the initiative on the relationship between the company and the country as  ‘relationship is a core value at MTN as a business’.

    He said: “MTN and the MTN Foundation uphold the company’s core value of building and sustaining relationships. Looking at what the Foundation has achieved in a decade, relationship plays an integral part in the success story of impact on millions of Nigerians in the areas of Education, Health and Economic Empowerment.”

    Goodluck said it is the value and the successes they have achieved so far that inspired them to partner with Nigerians by asking them to nominate any of these four projects: school furniture, boreholes, transformers or household items to orphanages, for their communities.

    “Through this nomination a community of your choice could benefit from one of these projects and we are going to implement this in 200 communities,” he said.

    Entries for this initiative will end on October 9, 2015.

    MTNF has spent over N13 billion over the last decade on 344 project sites across the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

     

  • MTN Foundation unveils new initiative

    MTN Foundation (MTNF) has launched a new initiative tagged “#WhatCanWeDoTogether? on its 10th anniversary celebration in an effort to help more Nigerians live a better life.

    With the #WhatCanWeDoTogether? Initiative, the Foundation will implement 200 projects in 200 communities across 200 LGAs in Nigeria.

    For a project to be done in a community, people in the community are expected to register the community name and their preferred project, guided by the prompts that follow after dialing the specified code.

    The Executive Secretary, MTNF, Nonny Ugboma, at the launch of the initiative over the weekend in Lagos said:?”You can change your community for good with your phone  simply by dialing *123*14# or visit http://foundation.mtnonline.com/do-together.

    “By partnering with the MTN Foundation, a community of your choice could be a beneficiary of any of 200 projects to be implemented in 200 communities across 200 LGAs in the country. These projects could be any of the following: provision of school furniture, boreholes, transformers or household items for orphanages.”

    Ugboma said the initiative is a demonstration of the Foundation’s commitment to continue to compliment government’s efforts in ways that can improve project development in various communities across the country.

    Commenting, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN Nigeria, Akinwale Goodluck, based the initiative on the relationship between the company and the country as  ‘relationship is a core value at MTN as a business’.

    He said: “MTN and the MTN Foundation uphold the company’s core value of building and sustaining relationships. Looking at what the Foundation has achieved in a decade, relationship plays an integral part in the success story of impact on millions of Nigerians in the areas of Education, Health and Economic Empowerment.”

    Goodluck said it is the value and the successes they have achieved so far that inspired them to partner with Nigerians by asking them to nominate any of these four projects: school furniture, boreholes, transformers or household items to orphanages, for their communities.

    “Through this nomination a community of your choice could benefit from one of these projects and we are going to implement this in 200 communities,” he said.

    Entries for this initiative will end on October 9, 2015.

    MTNF has spent over N13 billion over the last decade on 344 project sites across the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

     

  • Cancer: ‘Mammogram is the in-thing ’

    Cancer: ‘Mammogram is the in-thing ’

    Women have been urged to shift focus from self breast examination (SBE) to mammogram.

    A mammogram is an x-ray of the breasts to detect and diagnose breast diseases. Mammography is the most effective method of detecting cancer at an early stage, before the woman or a physician can feel it.

    The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola gave this advice at the MTN Foundation (MTNF) breast cancer awareness campaign walk.

    According to her, it was mammogram that saved her from being a victim of breast cancer.

    She said: “I was losing weight without realising it. Some people noticed and called my husband’s attention to it. I was feeling alright and healthy, and constantly doing the self breast examination (SBE). There was no lump. I went for my usual routine medical check up and mammogram examination was included.

    “That screening picked early formation of a lump in my breast lobes. Thankfully, when it was removed and examined, it was not cancerous. I am alive, hale and hearty. But how many women are that lucky and have access to mammogram and early detection of lump formation in their breasts? I will, therefore, commend MTN Foundation, the corporate social investment vehicle of MTN Nigeria, that has begun its free breast cancer screening for 1,500 beneficiaries across the six-geopolitical regions of Nigeria.”

    Mrs Fashola, who described herself as now a ‘breast cancer survivor,’ said consistent screening and early detection saved her from the killer disease.

    “This initiative is a welcome idea as more people will become better informed about this silent killer disease, and participate in the free screening provided by MTN at the MTN Foundation mammography centres across the country. Women should avail themselves of this opportunity,” she said.

    MTNF Director Mr Akinwale Goodluck said: “The free mammography screenings will be carried out in partnership with Deux Projects under the MTNF Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. This is one of the many projects that the MTN Foundation is particularly very passionate about because of the positive impact it will make on people’s lives.

    ”This initiative, which underscores the essence of the Foundation to positively impact the lives of Nigerians, by providing free breast cancer screening at MTN Mammography centres located at the General Hospital, Marina, Lagos State; Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State; Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe State; Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto State; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State and Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State.”

    The foundation will be sponsoring free mammography screening for 1,500 beneficiaries at MTNF mammography centres in Lagos, Enugu, Edo, Sokoto, Kogi and Yobe.

    During the awareness walk, which kicked off from Falomo roundabout and terminated at Freedom Park, Marina, Lagos, MTN executives, stakeholders and others distributed fliers and educated the public on breast cancer.

    ”This walk will be replicated in beneficiary states which include Edo, Enugu, Sokoto, Yola and Kogi, to sensitise the public about breast cancer, with medical practitioners and specialists on ground to enlighten people and encourage women to get screened at designated points,” Goodluck stated.

    Dr. Femi Olaleye, medical director, Optical Cancer Care Foundation, said breast cancer kills one in every 25 Nigerian women and urged women to get screened yearly to prevent untimely death.

    “The incidence of breast cancer is one in 25, but because we don’t screen our population, it’s actually a death sentence. Here in Nigeria, most of the diagnoses are made when it is too late, thereby leading to several needless and painful deaths of our beloved mothers, sisters, aunts, friends and colleagues. One or two in every 25 Nigerian women are at risk of breast cancer, but higher risks exist for women who are older than 45, older than 30 at birth of their first child, and women with family history,” he added.

    At the event, Olaleye demonstrated how breast self-examination to check for lumps, thickenings and nipple discharge is done.  Medical practitioners were also available to perform clinical breast examination and offer free advisory services.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared breast cancer as the number one scourge afflicting people, and one in eight women is at risk of having breast cancer in their lifetime.

    ”Breast cancer is currently the commonest cancer in Nigeria. Early detection can help put a check on several needless and painful deaths of our women” Goodluck said.

    MTN Foundation is executing various projects in 341 locations across the 36 states of Nigeria, including the FCT. The foundation has spent over N10.5 billion on social projects in health, education and economic empowerment. Recently, the it deployed state-of-the-art mobile clinics stocked with medical equipment and drugs to states. The mobile clinics have helped to reduce the incidence of maternal and child deaths, especially in rural communities.

  • Pomp as St Patrick’s Old Boys mark 80th anniversary

    Pomp as St Patrick’s Old Boys mark 80th anniversary

    It was homecoming for Old Boys of the St Patrick’s College, Ikot Ansa in Calabar as they converged in the Cross River State capital from far and near to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the school.

    The institution, fondly referred to as SPACO established by Catholic Church in 1934, has over the years produced several notable Nigerians.

    For the former students, called Patricians, across generations who had lost touch with each other, it was an opportunity to establish long lost ties as well as establish new ones, clad in their traditional green blazers as they carried out several activities on the premises of the institution that molded them, years ago.

    National president of the alumni association, Chief Charles Ifeanyi, extolled the institution which he said had made them become what they are today by ensuring the received the best of moral intellectual and physical upbringing.

    The chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Engineer Sylvanus Edet,, who was in the institution from 1969 to 1973 said, “Honestly today I feel like even crying for joy. It is a great day for me to witness the 80th anniversary of this great institution. This institution molded me, gave me all the knowledge staring from the first day I entered here in class one and came out in class five and because of the teaching and the resilience and courage I got from this school, I was able to excel in my university. So I can never ever fail to remember this institution and give all I have to it. It is a great day for me.

    “The school stands for knowledge and wisdom. Patrick was a patron saint in Ireland and he is always behind us and we are achievers. St Patrick boys are always achievers. So we can never regret being here, and we try as much to impart on the young ones. That is why we invited them here today so they can aspire to be like us in future.

    “Our national president left this college sixty years ago but you still see him in blazer as a student. I left about 35 years ago, you still see me happily wearing the blazer. This is enough encouragement for the younger ones. We have a lot of passion for this college.

    Another old student, 85-year old Emmanuel Orji, who also wrote a book on the history of the institution launched as part of the anniversary celebration was also full of praise for his alma mater.

    Orji who schooled there from 1945 to 1949 said, “SPACO started as an international school and when I was here, I entered in 1945. We came from all over the country. In fact we didn’t know where we came from. We saw ourselves and brothers and that is why we caught the spirit of SPACO. The spirit is caught not taught. It comes into you naturally. It is a fantastic place.”

    A retired civil servant and prolific writer, he continued, “The school made me what I am today. I cannot be pushed around. I am a highly principled man and that is why I am respected. I wrote the book because I am a historian by nature. I taught and love history. I started reading Nigerian newspapers in 1936 as a small boy and all the things that have happened in this country, I follow them. I like to contribute to development in my own little way to remind people what happened in the past, because in this country we have a tendency to forget the past. We don’t even think about the future. We don’t think about the future because we don’t cast our minds backwards to know what happened in the past. Unless you know your past, you can never appreciate your present and plan well for the future.”

    Another Old Boy and Director of the MTN Foundation, Mr Dennis Okoro, said, “Today is a dream come true. The kind of training this school gave us made us has helped us. And that is why we worked very hard to celebrate an 80th anniversary despite all odds.

    “SPC stands for a good Catholic institution that not only develops you intellectually, but also morally and physically. Look at the number of football fields we have. We had lawn tennis and hockey pitch. We had all sorts of games. So it was a total rounded development, which you don’t have today. Some schools don’t even have grounds not to talk of playing fields. I advise the young ones take their period here as a training field to avoid eating their future. They should suffer today and defer gratification and after six years it will yield fruit.”

  • MTN spends N9b on projects in Nigeria

    MTN spends N9b on projects in Nigeria

    The MTN Foundation has invested over N9billion in  various projects in 338 locations across the country.

    Its Director, Mr Dennis Okoro, who said this in Calabar while handing over five security vans to the Cross River State government said they will continue to work with government at all levels to enrich the lives of the people.

    He said the project was under the foundation’s security support project.

    He said security of life and property is critical to growth and development, hence it is an area that should not be left to government alone.

    He said the foundation in two previous phases had provided 115 fully equipped security patrol vehicles with communication gadgets to to 18 state governments.

    Cross River which received theirs yesterday, he said was in the third phase alongside eleven other states who would also receive five each.

    “At MTN, we are passionate about improving the quality of life in Nigeria and contributing to its socio-economic growth. Thus we constantly seek out opportunities where we can contribute to the development of the communities,” Okoro said.

    The Deputy Governor, Mr Efiok Cobham, expressed delight at the gesture and promised to utilise the vehicles maximally to the benefit of the people.

    He said the gesture would  boost the security infrastructure in the state.

    Cobham said in the country today, it has become clear security is everybody’s concern.

  • MTN Foundation supports disabled

    MTN Foundation has assisted some disabled people with aids and appliances as part of its disability support project (DSP).

    At the ceremony, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Allevation, Mrs Risikat Akinyode.

    The materials include wheelchairs, tricycles, crutches, guide canes, hearing aids, braille machines, samsung galaxy talking phones, among others.

    It was the fourth phase of the ceremony. The items were shared across the 36 states.

    The initiative is based on the belief that by accepting and empowering the disabled citizens, their life would be greatly improve. The foundation started in 2009 and has made a positive difference in the lives of over 15,000 Nigerians.

    MTN partnered with Independent Living Programme (ILP) for people with disabilities and the supplier of the appliances research and developmentCentre (MAARDEC) to realise the vision.

    Beneficiaries included pupils from secondary schools such as Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, which had a total number of 17 blind pupils who went home with four braille Machines and a talking phone each.

    Other schools include the Lagos State Model College, Bethesda Home for the Blind.

    According to the Executive Director Independent Living Project (ILP), Mrs Folake Grace Idowu, a disabled, “We hope to fight for disabled in Nigeria till they take their rightful positions in the society and we promise not to leave any of them behind”.

    MTN implemented the first phase of the project between 2009 and 2011 in partnership with ILP and ensured it gave its beneficiaries aids and appliances that will be useful to them.

    The phase four, which is starting in Lagos will move across 13 states are Lagos, Adamawa, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Oyo, Sokoto, Taraba and Abuja. The fifth and sixth editions will wrap up the programme.