MTN Gets Award for Supporting MDGs

MTN Foundation, the corporate social investment (CSI) implementing vehicle of the leading telecommunications company in Nigeria, MTN has bagged an award for its exemplary commitment to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria. The award was conferred on the Foundation by Africa Investor (Ai) at a gala dinner of the 18th Conference of Africa’s Ministers of Trade and Industry held in Durban, South Africa recently.
Ai is a leading international investment research and communication group. Its annual awards, which reward and recognise the performance of Investors, stakeholders, developers, contractors, and regulators in Africa’s fast-growing infrastructure sectors, are the longest running and most established international investment awards in Africa. The Awards have gained international acclaim for their pioneering and unique pan-African investment focus.
At this year’s edition which was graced by over 350 delegates, comprising over 30 African Ministers of Industry, including Nigeria’s former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Charles Ugwuh, and some of the continent’s most respected corporate icons, MTN Foundation beat other contenders to emerge winner in the category of The Best Initiative in Support of MDGs. Diageo Africa emerged the First Runner up together with Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, while the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation emerged the second runner up.
Four major projects of the Foundation with direct bearing on four key Millennium Development Goals gave the foundation an edge. They include the MTNF SchoolsConnect, which aligns with the millennium goal of achieving Universal Primary Education, the MTNF Lady Mechanic Initiative, which is aimed at facilitating the achievement of the goal of promoting gender equality and empowerment of women, MTNF Partners Against AIDS in the Community (PAAC) Project, which aligns with the goal of combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases, and MTNF Project Clean which promotes the realization of the goal of ensuring environmental sustainability.
The MTNF SchoolsConnect project aims at using ICT to enhance teaching and learning in secondary schools in Nigeria by providing first-class digital laboratories, equipped with internet-enabled systems and alternative power to run them. The project has so far impacted over 100,000 students and 5,000 teachers in 49 government schools across Nigeria. The MTNF Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI) is rehabilitating disadvantaged and deprived women, including orphans, widows and street urchins, by teaching them auto-mechanic and entrepreneurial skills. Many women who would have otherwise fallen into vices have benefited from this project. The PAAC project has provided education, counseling and succour for hundreds of people living with HIV/AIDS, while the
MTNF Project C.L.E.A.N (Cleaning the Local Environment all Around) project is helping to engender a new culture of cleanliness and environmental responsibility in the communities.
 “We are honoured that the contributions of MTN Foundation to growth and development have received this worthy recognition. We are grateful to Africa Investor, organisers of these awards and pledge to strive to do more for our country and our people”, said Amina Oyagbola, Executive Director MTN Foundation.