MTN Rejigs Digital Education in Nigeria

MTN, Nigeria’s largest telecommunications company, has concluded its annual staff volunteerism programme tagged ‘21 Days Y’ello Care’.

This year’s edition commenced on June 1 focused on education with the theme: ‘Education in the Digital World’.

The event had staff of MTN Nigeria engaging in a number of activities aimed at promoting an ideal learning environment as well as draw attention to the fundamental role of education in the development of the nation.

Speaking at the grand finale, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, the Company’s corporate services executive, reiterated MTN Nigeria’s commitment to giving back to communities in which it operates, adding that this year’s programme has testimonies to show the platform achieved its purpose.

While describing education as a means to sustain its corporate social responsibility service and a vital tool for social and economic development, Goodluck, said, “The weeks were filled with various initiatives that enabled MTN, through the 21 Days of Yello Care programme, contribute immensely towards improving educational standards in Nigeria.

He said that under the Digitech Classroom Project, digitally equipped classrooms were established across the country to drive access to digital learning.

“From the achievement, it is obvious that 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.”

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 was the company’s Adopt a Girls’ School Project, which saw 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, aimed at elevating vocational education in Nigeria, and Y’ello Tutor, which entails the creation of an online learning hub 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.

The initiative tagged ‘The Y’ello Aid Initiative,’ also raised funds for the Chibok Scholarship Programme, which aimed to move school children from Chibok to schools in other states, among other initiatives.

In a secondary school debate held at its headquarters to conclude the programme, Bisola Ogundipe of the Meiram High School emerged the overall winner and was trailed by Daniel Nwanneka of the Government Senior College, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Several other measures were adopted through the 21-day programme like the empowerment of vocational centres in Lagos.