MTN Targets Digital Education in 21 Days

INFORMATION and communications technology company in Nigeria, MTN, has commenced its annual staff volunteerism programme, 21 Days of Y’ello Care, with this year’s edition focusing on education. 

Themed “Education in the Digital World”, this year’s edition, which commenced on June 1, will have staff of  MTN Nigeria engage in a number of activities aimed at promoting a conducive learning environment as well as draw attention to the fundamental role of education in the development of the nation. Reiterating MTN Nigeria’s commitment to giving back to communities in which it operates at the flag-off of the programme in Lagos, Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, described education as a vital tool for social and economic development.

 “The weeks ahead are filled with various initiatives that will enable MTN, through the 21 Days of Yello Care programme, continue to contribute its quota towards improving educational standards in Nigeria. Under the Digitech Classroom Project, digitally equipped classrooms will be established across the country to drive access to digital learning. Access to the Internet and education will position a great number of pupils on the same platform as their counterparts in other developed countries, helping to ensure that they do not suffer learning disadvantages even though they live in a developing country,” he said.

Initiated by the MTN Group in 2007, the annual programme encourages MTN staff across its 21 operations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East to volunteer their resources, time and skills to help others and the communities where they live and work.

Also featuring among projects lined up for implementation is the company’s Adopt a Girls’ School Project, which will see each unit within MTN adopt an all-girls school towards empowering the girl child and promoting gender equality in education. 

Other initiatives include Vocation is Education, which is aimed at elevating vocational education in Nigeria, and Y’ello Tutor, which entails the creation of an Online Learning Hub that will be made accessible to students in primary and secondary schools across the country, providing them access to learning materials, tutorials, examinations practice questions and other educational resources.

MTN will also be partnering with Non-Governmental Organisations to provide relief materials to the northern part of Nigeria where the learning infrastructure gap is most acute. The initiative tagged, The Y’ello Aid Initiative, will also raise funds for the Chibok Scholarship which aims to move school girls from Chibok to schools in other states.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, Engineer Olawunmi Gasper, lauded MTN for acknowledging the importance of education in a growing community.
“I am delighted to be part of MTN’s contribution to promoting education amongst our children. Education is very vital, and inculcating reading habits in children is the way to go. This programme is laudable as it also encourages vocational training and skill acquisition by our children. Gaining an education or learning a form of trade will definitely alleviate poverty within our communities as individuals will now be able to fend and provide for their needs with ease and convenience,” he said.

Also present at the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State, Mrs. Risikat Akiyode; Director, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Toyin Onanuga; Programme Director, WIMBIZ, Ms. Morema Onabolu; MTN Ambassadors and Artistes, Banky W, HarrySong and Nikki Laoye; Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Osho; Human Resources Executive, MTN Nigeria Mrs. Amina Oyagbola, and other executives of MTN.