In keeping to its corporate social responsibility and brand promise to its subscribers, MTN Nigeria is leveraging collaborative initiatives across rural communities in Nigeria to deliver impactful projects in villages through its “The What Can We Do Together” (WCWDT) initiative under the MTN Foundation.
“The WCWDT initiative reflects our sustained drive to collaborate with Nigerians in executing impactful projects in communities across the country. We believe the nominators are the heroes of this initiative as their noble efforts will go a long way in improving the quality of life for millions of Nigerians,” said Abasi-Ekong Udobang, senior manager, programme implementation, MTN Nigeria, at a recent dinner and awards night held to celebrates community heroes in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt for their efforts in nominating communities in the WCWDT.
According to Udobang, the Foundation is dedicated to developing grassroots communities through collaborative efforts, as WCWDT provides Nigerians with the opportunity to nominate a community for developmental projects.
“The altruistic gesture from the nominators led to various interventions by MTN Foundation in nominated communities, including supply of medical equipment to 40 primary health centres with training for the medical staff on the use of the newly supplied equipment. Ten communities received solar-powered boreholes and learning materials (school bags, exercise books, raincoats and pencil cases) were distributed to over 15,000 pupils in 60 public primary schools across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,” Udobang said.
Since the launch of the first phase of the WCWDT initiative in 2015, 510 communities across 454 local government areas have received diverse interventions from MTN Foundation.
Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor of Lagos State, said corporate organisations can do more to deepen cooperation with government to deliver basic amenities to communities by partnering with government.
“Lagos State is so pleased to be associated with MTN Nigeria and indeed, the governor has extended his appreciation for this gesture by the MTN Foundation,” stated Hamzat, who was represented by Yinka Ayandele, the permanent secretary, Education District III, Lagos State.
According to Hamzat, MTN Foundation has over the years partnered with both public and private organisations to initiate sustainable development programmes in different focus areas with the aim of making life brighter for Nigerians.
However, speaking at the appreciation event in Abuja organised for nominators from the northern region, Yakubu Oseni, the chairman, Senate committee on ICT, applauded MTN for the kind gesture. He commended the initiative hoping that the foundation would execute more ICT projects in subsequent phases.
MTN Nigeria Communications, through its, MTN Foundation, which is the social investment vehicle of the ‘yello’ communication company celebrated 110 Nigerians at gala events in Lagos, Abuja, and Port-Harcourt. The celebration is the climax of the third edition of the “WCWDT” initiative. The celebrated heroes are the individuals who nominated various communities that received interventions under the scheme.
