MTN Foundation puts smiles on 1,500 kids

ITREALMS:

The MTN Foundation has put smiles on the faces of about 1,500 kids in 36 institutions across the country. Each establishment was gifted foodstuff and baby care products, reports ITRealms.

According to Dennis Okoro, Director, MTN Foundation, “the provision of basic living amenities and consumables to the less privileged is critical to the growth and development of our country. We are passionate about this and that is what these initiatives are about, making life better for the children of this great nation”.

The management of the homes visited expressed their gratitude for MTN Foundation’s care, which they described as timely and uplifting.

MTN Foundation Director, Mrs Mosun Bello-Olusoga noted that “Children’s homessuch as these typically have a hard time sourcing funds. We all need to do our part, we all need to do more. Moments like these give us the opportunity to step out, reach out and show love.”

During each visit, MTN staff and representatives of the Foundation spent time with the children, talking about life, interests and inspirations as well as playing with the kids.

“These are very special places with very special children. Bursting with ideas, kids are such great dreamers not bound by perceived limitations. They are so full of love, children are an inspiration to us all! I am grateful and honoured to have been part of this,” said Adekemi Adisa, a General Manager in MTN’s Human Resources Division.

Places visited include Kids with a vision Foundation, Jos; Katsina children’s home; Al Ansar home, Abuja; Bethesda Home for the Blind, Lagos; Grace Orphan Rescue Foundation,Rivers; Eruobodo Centre for Special needs children Ogun; Ancilla motherless babies home, Imo and Save the child motherless and abandoned babies home, Owerri, Imo state.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Abdullateef family commends Shittu, MTN Foundation over N10m heart surgery

ITRealms:

The Abdullateef Family of Agoro Ogunmola Compound in Kishi, Oyo State has commended the efforts of the Communications Minister, Barr. Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu and MTN Foundation over the successful treatment of  their baby girl, Mutmainat Abdullateef who had a whole in her heart  in an Indian hospital, reports ITRealms.

MTN Foundation was singled out for footing the $21,566 (NI0.6 million) surgery bill  to correct Mutmainat’s congenital heart condition at  Apollo Hospital, India, while the family acknowledged and appreciated the minister for the reference to assist the family.

In a letter informing the minister of the successful treatment of Mutmainat, the Foundation said,  ”we are pleased to inform you that following successful surgery and recuperation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Apollo Hospital, India, baby Mutmainat Abdullateef, who your office referred with congenital heart condition, has returned to Nigeria.”

The Special Assistant (Media) to the minister, Victor Oluwadamilare said despite the higher risk of performing the surgery (between 10 and 20 percent chance of surviving), the Foundation informed the minister of its ability to “save a life and contribute to the process of restoring the health of baby Mutmainat”.

Mutmainat’s father, Abubkar Abdullateef in an appreciation letter had commended the MTN Foundation for the timely intervention in the treatment of the girl.

“Sponsoring of such a very expensive surgical operation by MTN Foundation at this time of recession in the country, is an indication that the company is indeed out to assist the less privileged in the country”, he said.

Sometimes last year, the Abdullateef Family of Agoro Ogunmola Compound in Kishi, Oyo State in an hapless situation of inability to foot the medical bill of their daughter had approached Barr. Shittu for intervention.

The minister, then used his good offices to refer the family to the MTN Foundation and recommended assistance, to which the Foundation acceded and eventually foot the bill for travel, treatment and logistics for the patient and her mother in India.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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MTN Nigeria Foundation celebrates 10th Anniversary

ITRealms

 

Nigerians, foreigners and top musicians were in attendance at the conference to mark MTN Foundation 10^th anniversary, ITRealms reports.

Organized to mark a decade of the foundation’s existence, September 15, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)  and other experts were on hand to kick off the celebration in a conference that discussed the  issues surrounding Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria.

Among the entertainers that performed at the event, ITRealms gathered, were Banky W, Chidinma Ekile, Cobhams Asuquo and MTN Project Fame Season 7 housemates with DJ Humility on the turn table, while Scholars at the MTN Foundation and Muson School of Music also made the night one to remember. The Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr Pascal Dozie opened the conference open.

It could be recalled that recently the former Chairman of MTN Foundation (MTNF), Mr Hamzat Ahmadu, said that the foundation had spent over N11 billion on 341 project sites in 10 years.

This information was contained in a statement in Lagos obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as the foundation marked a decade of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.

The statement, ITRealms learnt, said that the successes that had been recorded in the last 10 years were based on the foundation’s ability to leverage on the power of local and international partners. Further, the statement added that the partners are able to bring relevant knowledge and experience to the table, to create and execute sustainable projects across the country.

“With its pioneering status as the first foundation established by a Nigerian telecommunication company, MTN Foundation, the CSR vehicle of a leading ICT company, is celebrating a decade of touching lives. The foundation has been touching lives through its hugely impactful social investments in education, health, and economic empowerment.

“Founded on May 11, 2005, the foundation is funded by up to one per cent Profit-After-Tax from MTN Nigeria. It has become the leading driver of social investments through the expenditure of over N11 billion in 341 project sites across the six geopolitical zones of the country. The strides in the area of health, education and economic empowerment are eloquent testimonies of how well we have been able to demonstrate our commitment to enriching and adding value to lives” he said.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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MTNF trains first set of beneficiaries on career development

A cross section of participants at the MTN Foundation training.

MTN Foundation has groomed the first set of graduate beneficiaries before letting them into the ‘labour’ market on career development.

ITRealms gathered the latest training was the first being organized for beneficiaries from the MTN Foundation Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme since its inception in 2009.

Also, ITRealms the training was to provide the graduating students with requisite
tools and employment tips as they step into the professional work environment.

The career development and enterprise workshop organized by MTN foundation was held at the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, Ikoyi-Lagos, recently.

Worthy of note is that the Lagos-based MTN Foundation was incorporated in July 2004 to offer a sustainable and focused channel through which MTN Nigeria drives it’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Foundation is funded by up to 1 per cent of Profit-After-Tax (PAT) from MTN Nigeria and deploys a unique brand of wide impact and project-driven corporate social investment programmes which have won several accolades.

It has also created a vibrant network of local and international partner organisations through which its various projects are executed.

Factually, MTN Foundation has made huge impact and thus becoming a model for good corporate citizenship, endorsed by a wide variety of stakeholders.

Remmy Nweke/DSBNews 
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