MTN Tackles Crisis in Education

THE growing crisis in the education sector has caught the attention of MTN Nigeria and has consequently urged its staff to join hands to tackle the challenges.

In response to the challenges, staff of the telecommunication

L-R: Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Ukpanah Utoh, Principal of  Lanre Awolokun Senior High School, Gbagada, Mrs. Adams Ibironke Abiodun, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma and Project Manager, MTN 21 Days of Y’ello Care, 2013, Mr. Omojola Felix during the donation of a digital library to the school as part of the activities of 21 Days of Y’ello Care, the company’s annual staff volunteerism programme, Lagos.

s company came out in large numbers on Monday, during the 21 Days of Y’ello Care to buy educational books from Evans Publishers Limited, which will be donated to schools across the country to mark the celebration, with the theme: Investing in Education for All.

Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Dr. Pascal Dozie who flagged-off this year’s edition described the 21 Days of Y’ello Care as the corporate social investment initiative of the company saying that this year, MTN together with its staff across the country will be shaping Nigeria’s future through education.

The reason, according to him is that the MTN family understands and recognises the pivotal role that education plays in the development of the any nation adding that “given the current state of affairs, I believe that the private sector, civil society, parents and indeed everyone have a collective role to play in ensuring that our children receive quality education.”

Dozie disclosed that MTN is motivated to urge its staff to join in contributing to the 21 Days of Y’ello Care because the quality of learning delivery in the country continues to deteriorate from primary to tertiary levels saying that there is lack of sufficient funds to cover the education of the nation’s growing population.

He stated critical areas of science and technology are poorly funded stressing, “This leaves our children ill-prepared for the technology-based, digitally-driven future that awaits them.”

Also speaking at the event, chief executive officer of MTN, Brett Goschen said that digital learning will make up the core of this year’s Y’ello Care campaign adding that it is the corporate vision of MTN to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world,”we intend to take this to the classroom.”

According to him, through the studyplace project of the MTN, nine e-libraries across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt to encourage healthy study habits, promote a reading culture and increase access to digital technology amongst Nigerian students.

He added that the other projects that will future in the one-month campaign are the Book Fair and the Teachme Reachme, where MTN staff will go to schools across the country to impact knowledge on students as well as provide career counselling.