MTN Wins CSR Award

MTN Nigeria has again been adjudged the most socially responsible company in Nigeria by organizers of the annual Social Enterprise Reports and Awards (SERA).
The company, which won the recognition on account of the wide-impact social projects being implemented by its Corporate Social Investment vehicle, MTN Foundation across Nigeria, also emerged the Best Company in Combating HIV/AIDS and Malaria, and Most Socially Responsible Telecommunications Company.
MTN, in addition, earned a Certificate of Commendation from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as the overall winner of the 4th edition of Sera.
In 2009, the company similarly won the Most Socially Responsible Company in Nigeria award category in addition to five other awards including the Best Company in Poverty Reduction (MDG1), Best Company in Gender Equality (MDG3) and Best Company in Partnership for Development (MDG8).
The Sera Awards are given out annually to outstanding socially responsible companies as a way of promoting corporate social responsibility in order to contribute to sustainable development of the country.
“We are both delighted and challenged by these wonderful awards,” said Akinwale Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive, MTN, and Director, MTNF.
“We are delighted because these awards tell us that the society is paying attention to our contributions; challenged, because it is clear that our people need more support to enjoy normal life. This means that we in MTN should intensify efforts to surpass the standards we have set for ourselves to meaningfully impact the lives of our people, Goodluck said”. He also encouraged other corporate organisations to join hands in evolving more sustainable projects that would enrich the lives of Nigerians.
According to him, the MTN Foundation has 214 project sites in 34 states in the six geo-political zones of the country and will continue to execute projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life of Nigerian people in the key areas of Education, Health and Economic Empowerment.
Mr. Ken Egbas, managing partner of TruContact Limited, organizers of the SERA Awards, said: “Our goals are simple; we want to find a way of developing the country through the participation of corporate organizations in partnership with the government. The road to corporate sustainability is a tortuous journey that demands ethical behaviour, commitment and dogged determination. So, giving awards to companies that have been able to achieve this is a pleasure.”
Egbas explained that the nominees were chosen according to creativity, innovativeness and sustainability of the projects submitted.”