MTN Foundation Raises Alarm Over Exploitation of Disabled

The corporate social investment implementing vehicle of MTN Nigeria, The MTN Foundation, has alerted members of the public to a ploy by certain individuals to dupe disabled people under the guise of its purely humanitarian project, MTNF Disability Support Project.
“It has come to our notice that certain individuals are attempting to dupe prospective beneficiaries of the second phase of the MTNF Disability Support Project,” said Wale Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, in a statement in Lagos.
“These individuals are sending out text messages requesting prospective beneficiaries to pay N1000 to obtain a form to be eligible to obtain mobility aids and other appliances donated by the MTN Foundation. This is an unfortunate attempt by fraudulent individuals to cash in on this purely humanitarian initiative.
“The MTN Foundation does not request prospective beneficiaries to purchase any forms under the Disability Support Project or any other project being implemented by the Foundation. The Foundation has equally not authorised anyone to collect money or recharge cards to facilitate participation of individuals in this or any other projects being implemented by the MTN Foundation,” said Goodluck.
Goodluck stated that while the aids and appliances are given directly to end users, application for them is done through the various institutions to which the disabled belong, such as special homes, integrated schools, and associations for the physically challenged, and the visually and hearing impaired, among others.
He explained that such institutions are requested to obtain and complete Vulnerability Index forms free of charge from designated points published in national newspapers.
Goodluck said the second phase of the project currently being implemented is targeted at people living with disabilities in Abia, Bauchi, Borno, Edo, Enugu, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, Ogun and Rivers states. The first phase of the project according to him, witnessed the distribution of thousands of wheelchairs, tricycles, Braille machines, Braille wristwatches, hearing Aids and other appliances to people living with disabilities in Anambra, Ebonyi, Lagos, Oyo, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Delta and Cross River States.
Goodluck said the Foundation would work with security operatives to unmask the individuals trying to take advantage of the initiative and bring them to book.