The MTN Foundation has revealed it invested approximately N3 billion in scholarships for underprivileged undergraduate students and those living with disabilities across the nation.
Mr. Reginald Okeya, the Director of the Foundation, made this announcement on Thursday during the Scholarship Award ceremony in Port Harcourt.
Okeya highlighted that this initiative forms a crucial part of the company’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility, a venture sustained for over a decade.
“Annually, the foundation earmarks a designated fund for scholarship grants for the disadvantaged, the visually impaired, and other students with disabilities.
The program rolls out in phases; today’s segment includes more than 300 undergraduate science students, spanning those with visual impairments to others with physical disabilities.
Each beneficiary receives a total scholarship allowance of N200,000 every semester.
Beneficiaries will continually receive the scholarship as long as they sustain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.4 in their respective disciplines up until their graduation,” Okeya elucidated.
Additionally, Mr. Thank-God Otopka, the Regional Operator and General Manager – South, encouraged the recipients to remain dedicated in their academic endeavors.
He counseled them to leverage the scholarship for personal and societal advancement while steering clear of any undertakings that might derail their positive academic paths.
Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chinedum Mmon, extolled MTN for their thoughtful gesture towards the marginalized and vulnerable.
Represented by Mr. Emmanuel Olomo, Director of Quality Assurance, the commissioner emphasized to the beneficiaries the privilege of being selected, urging them to recognize the significance of this scholarship in charting their career trajectories.
In response, several recipients expressed their gratitude to the foundation, vowing to maximize the manifold opportunities it offers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) highlighted that among those in attendance at the ceremony were the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, and a representative from the University of Port Harcourt.