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Tag: MTN

  • MTN donates protective equipment against Ebola

    MTN donates protective equipment against Ebola

    Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has commended MTN for its public spirited gesture, which he said is a tradition associated with the MTN brand, especially in matters of Education and Health.  Governor Fashola stated this while receiving Personal Protective Equipment for healthcare workers and caregivers, donated by MTN Foundation in support of Lagos State’s effort at containing the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease.

    The donation was made under the MTN Foundation’s Community Support Project, which lends a helping hand to communities through infrastructure upgrade such as the provision of water boreholes, transformers etc for the benefit of people.  The presentation of personal protective equipment was a response by the Foundation in support of the systematic and professional approach of the Lagos State Health Team in curbing the Ebola scourge.

    Governor Fashola lauded MTN’s Private-Public Partnership model, which has seen the Foundation partner with government and other stakeholders in responding to different challenges in times of need, especially given the current health challenge faced by the country. “We are indeed grateful to MTN as it has been a tradition of theirs especially in matters of health and education. We also appreciate the health workers who in spite of the fear, worked tirelessly to bring the situation under manageable control. As much as we appreciate MTN’s gesture, we want to reiterate that the real challenge is human capacity, that is, the insufficiency of virologists and Ebola management experts,” said the Lagos State helmsman.

    Shedding more light on the presentation, Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Pascal Dozie, said the gesture was in support of all that the Lagos State government had done to contain the spread of the Ebola virus since it was first discovered.

    “MTN recognises the importance of collective effort and the role of the private sector in containing the spread and the impact of the disease and we take very seriously, our responsibility to provide a service that is essential in a period of national emergency as we have found ourselves. This is why we are making this donation of personal protective equipment to supplement measures to protect our frontline health workers and caregivers,” he stated.

    “We have also activated a 24-hour, seven-day a week help-line in conjunction with our call centers management partners where customers can get basic information on Ebola, with support from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, through the office of the Special Assistant on Public Health to the State Governor.

  • How SMEs can grow, by MTN

    Entrepreneurs over the weekend in Lagos gave tips to small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) on how to succeed in business at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island Lagos during  the MTN Link Forum.

    Speakers were Mr. Olakunle Soriyan, the Principal Transformation Strategist, Olakunle Soriyan Company; Mr. Adetayo Eniibukun, CEO, CleanAce Daycleaness; Maret Zmyslowski, Managing Director, Jovago.com and Mr. Ayo Olashoju, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Tavia Nigeria.

    On innovation as a tool for entrepreneurship success, Zmyslowski, who co-founded two online businesses and currently manages Nigeria’s biggest online hotel-booking firm, Jovago.com, reiterated the importance of innovation in promoting small and medium scale businesses in Nigeria. He urged budding entrepreneurs to focus on legitimate online business because the internet held an immense power to change the world.

    According to him, it is easier to do business in a fresh growing online market, such as Nigeria’s, adding that all one needed to do was to look for an idea that has been successful elsewhere and replicate same in here in the country.

    “In addition, we need to realise that just having a business idea doesn’t give you mush advantage. What matter is the ability to execute the business and build best products,” he warned.

    Drawing lessons from his business experience, Soriyan, a product development expert, reiterated the importance of knowledge in business. He urged participants to seek knowledge and read relevant materials on the kind of business they run.

  • Fashola praises health workers

    •Governor says disease has been checked
    •State gets N200m from Fed Govt

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday praised health workers who risked their lives to save Ebola patients.

    Fashola spoke  when MTN Nigeria presented Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in support of the war against the Ebola Virus Disease at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

    The governor, who allayed  fears of  Nigerians over the disease , said the collaborative efforts of government had brought it under control.

    According to him, “ those health workers who risk their lives to fight this disease, stood up to be counted when there was dire need, when there was fear even at the highest levels of government. But, in spite of those fears, some men and women stood up to be counted. We will talk about them later.

    “The health team accepts this gesture and wish to use the opportunity to reiterate again, as I said in my broadcast a fortnight ago, that while we understand and fully appreciate the humanitarian concern that propels these things.

    “The real problem is the sufficiency of experienced virologists and Ebola specialists in managing and when the sub-region is challenged on many fronts, that capacity thins out. That really is the problem; so, it is not always a money problem. As at this time it isn’t really an equipment problem. It is a human capacity problem.

    “We are at a stage where, like I said before, we do not need to panic. Ebola virus is not automatic death sentence; a lot of knowledge is being gained on daily basis even at this moment about the behavior of the virus and that knowledge helps the scientist to prepare even better to respond.

    “Different types of virus have been identified and we now have clarity about the length and life span of the virus. That body of knowledge helps in the management of the disease.”

    Fashola praised MTN for the gesture, saying it is clearly the tradition which the brand  has been associate  with, especially “in matters on health and education issues.”

    Fashola said as a government and people, they had benefited from the telecoms giant’s disposition when it  provided dialysis machines and partnered the government in enhancing the standard of education in the state.

    Fashola confirmed the receipt of N200 million from the Federal Government, stressing that the effort  the state government  and response by the Rivers State Government will be definitive on how to contain the virus.”

    MTN Nigeria Chairman Dr. Pascal Dozie said: “Our coming here is very simple. When you see a good thing you appreciate it and would want to be part of it. We have watched the Lagos State government under the leadership of Governor Fashola when this Ebola incident occurred.

    “We thank God that it started off in Lagos because if it has started elsewhere, we would have had a pandemic. Their reaction was profound, dignified and historic, their response professionally systematic. It was as if having prepared you were waiting for the event to happen.”

  • MTN empowers Lagos budding entrepreneurs

    MTN empowers Lagos budding entrepreneurs

    After successful outings in Enugu and Port Harcourt, MTN, will, this weekend, provide a life-changing and career-transforming platform for budding entrepreneurs through its idea-sharing and business-empowerment platform.

    Known as MTN Link Forum, it is designed to aid young entrepreneurs achieve efficiency in their business operations in the small and medium sector of the economy.

    In a statement, the telco explained that the forum is an avenue for budding entrepreneurs to network their way to the top. MTN Link Forum does this by bringing together budding entrepreneurs and established business icons together in one location, where they share best practices and new business ideas and network with one another. The forum provides them with current knowledge required for running a successful business enterprise in today’s world.

    While emphasizing the commitment of MTN to ensuring that Nigerians are better in whatever they do, the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Kola Oyeyemi reiterates that the company as a truly supporting brand is committed to developing and engaging them to ‘Be Better’ in various entrepreneurial fields of human endeavour. In his words: “a strategic focus for MTN is to constantly provide an engaging and supporting platform for aspiring entrepreneurs. MTN Nigeria has continuously demonstrated this, through various values adding initiatives”.

    MTN Link Forum has hitherto, brought together notable entrepreneurs  like Mr. Victor Itayo, CEO, Quantum Business School, Port Harcourt; Mrs. Chinwe Endora, CEO, Swanu Creation, Dr. Jonathan Doerr, MD Jumia Nigeria and many others, to share their wealth of knowledge, at the earlier editions of the forum, held in Enugu and Port Harcourt.

    The MTN Link Forum is an innovative initiative that is focused on advancing the aspirations of budding entrepreneurs. It does this, by providing them with an opportunity to interact with renowned and successful Nigerian Business icons, who share with them success secrets and nuggets necessary for survival in today’s harsh business environment. The MTN Link Forum will continue in Abuja next month, while budding entrepreneurs with the best business ideas will be sponsored by MTN to attend the 2014 World Entrepreneurship Forum in Lyon France; in addition to juicy business grants worth N10 million.

  • Photos: MTN at the 54th NBA Conference

    Photos: MTN at the 54th NBA Conference

  • All set for MTN breakdance show

    All set for MTN breakdance show

    The journey to Braunschweig, Germany, in the MTN- sponsored MTN Battle of the Year breakdance competition has begun, with auditions slated for Lagos.

    Starting with a qualifier this weekendat Koga Studios, Ikeja, the telecommunications company will be giving the youth an opportunity to showcase their dance skills on the biggest stage in the world.

    The screening is expected to feature the best and most innovative breakdance crew from across the country.

    After the qualifiers, the one-on-one side event will take place at the Silverbird Galleria on Saturday, August 23. The National Finals follows next day at the in-door sports hall of University of Lagos.

    The organisers said the best crew would travel to Braunschweig, Germany in October to represent Nigeria at the international breakdance competition.

    Last year, Space Unlimited crew represented the country at the international finals that held at Volkswagen Halle, Braunschweigh, Germany. The crew beat competitors such as 3ple DK from Jos, Oomph from Benin and others to win the sole ticket to represent the country.

    The competition, for this year’s ticket is expected to be intense and exciting, starting with the screening at the weekend.

    Host of the show is popular Andre Blaze, a former Rhythm FM presenter and anchor of Nigeria’s Got Talent reality show.

  • CWG, MTN XaaS power Diamond Y’elloAccount

    Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc has extended the MTN XaaS platform to power the Diamond Y’elloAccount in collaboration with Diamond Bank and MTN Nigeria. The technology firm said it is to further drive the cashless initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    MTN XaaS runs on indigenous software from CWG designed to provide efficient cloud based banking services.

    Diamond Y’elloAccount is a mobile banking product built on MTNXaas platform to enable MTN subscribers, including the unbanked and under-banked populace in Nigeria enjoy the banking services from Diamond Bank. The Diamond Y’elloAccount allows automatic account opening just at the dial of *710# by all MTN subscribers, presently put at 58.4 million.

    During the launch of this innovative service, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti, said the move was aimed at deepening the cash-less initiative, considering that only about 40 million out of the estimated over 150 million Nigerians have been banked.

    He said the development would afford millions of Nigerians who have mobile phones but are alienated from banking activities due to procedures to seamlessly key into the formal banking system.

    Chief Technology Officer, CWG, Mr. James Agada, said Diamond Y’ello Account is riding on indigenous technology provided by the CWG. He said: “This technology and many others in the pipeline which include our SMERP platform, our PosApp solution and our teleport services all form part of the CWG 2.0 initiative where we are working with several partners to deploy solutions and services to the wider MSME and consumer markets.

    ‘’The teleport services have been announced with SES and will democratise digital broadcasting in Nigeria. Partners such as MTN and Diamond Bank are making these initiatives real. We expect CWG 2.0 to be a transformative programe for not just CWG but also the national economy.”

    Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ikpoki, said the telco was ready to absorb the anticipated surge into its digital solutions, allaying fears of disruptions.

    During the MTNXaas launch,  founder/Chief Executive Officer, CWG Mr. Austin Okere said MTNXaaS is one of the technology platforms that the firm provides for operation enhancement.

    He said: “This is the beginning of so many innovations we are going to unveil; we are going to look at hospitals, hotels, insurance and all those who are locked out of being able to provide competitive services due to IT deficiency. We will develop suitable technology that will enhance their business growth. CWG and MTN will break the digital barrier.”

  • 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 backs Battle of The Year 2014

    MTN backs Battle of The Year 2014

    MTN, a telecommunications company, has thrown its weight behind this year’s edition of the annual Battle of The Year dance competition, otherwise called BOTY.

    Battle of The Year is an annual international break-dancing series that began in Hannover, Germany over 20 years ago. Its uniqueness is the battle among various break-dance crews as opposed to individual break-dance battle.

    Usually, regional qualifying tournaments, also known as preliminaries, are held worldwide culminating the World finals event in Germany.

    According to the organisers, the Battle of the Year Nigeria is the Nigerian preliminary to the annual international Battle of the Year break-dance championship featuring the best B-boy crews from across the country competing for the spot to represent Nigeria and Africa at the Battle of the Year international events.

    The event, which is attended annually by over 1,2000 visitors across the world, features the best and most innovative break-dance crews from all over the world creating an environment for friendship, international exchange of culture and knowledge.

    It responds to the influences, energy and aspirations embedded in youth culture, providing access for youths to learn new skills and explore the uncommon world of opportunities.

    Jolomi Kendaboh, CEO of House of Royalty and Project Coordinator BOTY, said: “Expect that this year’s edition to be better than the last with MTN’s backing as we hope to take the standards of the dance competition to the next level.”

  • MTN Foundation donates vans to Abia

    MTN Foundation donates vans to Abia

    The MTN Foundation has donated five Toyota double cabin Hilux security vans to the Abia State government.

    This is to complement its efforts in combating crimes.

    Speaking in Umuahia while handing over the keys to Governor Theodore Orji, a director at the foundation, Dennis Okoro, said they donated the vans to help the government in its war against crimes.

    He said the foundation has noticed the efforts of the Orji administration to stop kidnapping and other crimes.

    Okoro added: “We decided that the only way to complement the efforts of the government is to go further than we have been doing.”

    He noted that government has made a breakthrough in its fight against crimes, saying the only way to support its efforts is to give a helping hand to enable it sustain the fight against crimes.

    The MTN Foundation director said they were prompted to donate the vans “because the governor is not only a focused man, but also a worthy partner of our foundation, who deserves all the help he can get to continue doing his good work.”

    He said the foundation spent over N9 billion since inception, adding that the state has benefitted from nine of its 300 programmes, including eye clinic, under which over 3,000 beneficiaries have undergone eye surgery and obtained glasses.

    Okoro said their programmes were advertised in the media to enable state governments and other organisations apply.

     

    He said they are targeted at state governments through which indigent people are affected, adding that they have also paid school fees of 1,600 students, with each receiving about N200,000 every year.

    Orji appreciated the telecoms group for being a partner in progress, stressing that it has partnered the state in health, security, education, among others.