MTN Foundation Empowers 3,000 Entrepreneurs

MTN Foundation, the social corporate investment vehicle of mobile telecommunications giant, MTN, has empowered an additional 3,000 entrepreneurs in its Rural Telephone Project (RTP). The project, currently in its fourth phase, is being implemented in partnership with a non-governmental organisation, Growing Businesses Foundation (GBF) while the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is providing technical support.
Speaking at a Stakeholders’ forum convened recently in Lagos on the project, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, wife of the Lagos State Governor, represented by Mr. Folashade Ogunnaike, a director of Women’s Affairs in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation lauded the RTP, “which is steadily helping to eradicate poverty from Nigeria”.
“Lagos State identifies with the MTN Foundation and indeed any organization that empowers people at the grassroots level, especially women and youths. We commend all beneficiaries, especially the young ones and urge them to remain steadfast in their bid to make an honest and truthful living from these opportunities afforded them. While we also commend MTN Foundation and its partners, we urge other organizations to emulate this wonderful gesture and contribute to economic growth, through empowerment,” Mrs. Fashola said.
In his comments, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, director, MTN Foundation said: “Phase one of the Rural Telephone Project was initiated by MTN Nigeria in 2002, prior to the establishment of the MTN Foundation, and it was implemented by Growing Businesses Foundation in Enugu State with just five women. Today, the project is currently in its fourth phase and has continued to elevate beneficiaries and offer them avenues to become economically independent through training and supporting them to own their own call centres”.