The MTN Foundation, under its MTN Foundation Scholarship, on Thursday disbursed over N114 million as scholarships to 380 students, including visually impaired students, across Nigerian universities for 2024.
This is as the foundation has also inducted 380 graduates into the MTN Scholarship Alumni Association.
The scholarship awards is part of the foundation’s efforts and determination to promote academic excellence and boost the education of the blind students in higher institutions of learning with each of the beneficiaries receiving the sum of N300, 000 instantly
Speaking at this year’s edition of the MTN Foundation Scholarship Award and Alumni Induction ceremony, which took place at Cubana Hall, Enugu, the director of MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro, described the foundation’s scholarship as unique because it is exclusively meant for the intelligent, brilliant and resilient students, who work hard in their studies..
He stated that the 13-year-old scholarship scheme, is different from bursary, because “we give scholarships to beneficiaries until they graduate.
“It’s so competitive that, for us to renew your scholarship every year, you have to maintain the same GPA average.
“Those of you who have our scholarships, should path yourselves on the back and never rest on your oars and continue to maintain the scholarship because there is so much value in it. You don’t join this scholarship and abandon it”.
Okoro noted that one of the most unique features of the scholarship was “Throughout your course, we have to make you be certified in your field for up to 10 certificate courses online.
“Apart from that, by the time you graduate, we put you through a digital literacy in the serious sense, teach you other things and you will become part of our family at the MTN Foundation.
“Anyone who is a beneficiary of this scholarship merited it. There’s no issue of influence of any kind. This is because MTN has a brand”.
He warned the beneficiaries that having MTN Foundation Scholarship only meant more hard work and consistency at their studies.
While welcoming the 380 new beneficiaries, the foundation also used the opportunity to sent forth 380 graduates and inducting them into the MTN Foundation Scholarship Alumni.
“The interesting thing is that those who benefited from this awards, on their own 13 years ago, decided to establish an alumni association of MTN Scholarship.
“You inspire us and we will continue to show love and care for you”, he said.
The Enugu State commissioner for children, gender and social development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, commended MTN Foundation for remaining faithful in awarding scholarships to Nigerians and physically challenged youths, saying that the gesture had lifted heavy financial burdens off their families while the beneficiaries were exposed to the best training during the course of their scholarship.
She noted that MTN Foundation’s vision resonates with the programmes of Governor Peter Mbah, which include digital literacy, youth empowerment and inclusion of the people with disability in the scheme of things.
“We’re doing all this with the our smart schools where young pupils learn digital literacy and grow in the global world”, she said.
