MTN Offers Scholarships to 484 Students

MTN Offers Scholarships to 484 Students - The joy of over four hundred and eighty-four students in our tertiary institutions knew no bounds as MTN Foundation announced the offer of scholarship to 484 Science and Technology students in Nigerian Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and Universities. Speaking recently at the scholarship presentation ceremony which took place at MTN head office, Lagos, the Director, MTN Foundation, Mr Dennis Okoro said that the organisation acknowledges the unshakeable brilliance, resilience and diligence of young Nigerians at home and in diaspora to achieving their dreams of being a major force to reckon with in the world. He noted that whatever money invested in Nigerian youths to actualised its dreams can not be too much saying that this explained why the MTN Foundation has made education one of the three focal areas of its social interventions; the other two being health and economic empowerment.Students can also get a lot of exposure while studying in such universities and different course.

According to Okoro, the scholarship scheme was introduced in 2008 by MTN Foundation as a solution to the finance-related challenges that many brilliant young men and women in higher institutions are facing in their quest to achieving greatness for themselves and their country.Explaining reasons for focussing on students whose courses of study fall under the broad category of Science and Technology for the scholarship, Okoro maintained that this is because the future of the world is predicted on Science and Technology, adding that for Nigeria to play its role effectively among other nations, it must have a sound footing in Science and Technology.It is our belief that this scheme will serve to stimulate the interest of our young generation in Science and Technology and help the country to build a solid foundation for a brighter future, he said.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms Nonny Ugboma, reiterated that before any student could apply, relevant criteria must be met. Part of the requirements, said she, was that students must have a cumulative G.P.A of 3.5 and above or its equivalent. " Out of about seven thousand students in tertiary institutions that indicated interest, only five hundred students emerged as the first set of beneficiaries.Any students who maintained the 3.5 GPA stands the chance of same scholarship the following year as each beneficiary of the scholarship scheme receives N200,000 which cover tuition and book allowance,she said.Thus far, Ugboma said, MTN Foundation now has a total of 935 beneficiaries of the MTNF Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme in phases 1 and 2 that is made up as follow: In Phase one, 451 students scholarship were renewed, while in Phase two, a total 484 got fresh scholarship awards.

The Dean of Student Affairs, University of Lagos, Prof Olukayode Amund in his comment on the CSR of MTN Foundation gesture, showered praises on the organisation for making it easy for the less privilege to fund their education. He however urged MTN to also consider the Staff of those institutions who are impacting knowledge to the students as the students can only get the best from their lecturers if opportunities are given to them to travel abroad for research work that will enhance productivity.Meanwhile, no fewer than two thousand eight hundred (2800) Pupils representing about seven hundred (700) schools are contending for honours in the grand finale of the Indomie Inter School Art Competition held on Saturday May 14,across the five zones designated for the competition.

The finals of the Indomie Art Competition otherwise tagged 'My Mom Like No Other' inter school Art competition was held in Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Ota, Oshodi and Mushin centre where finalists converged to show their drawing and painting skills.Speaking at the centre in Mushin, the Public Relations Manager, Tope Ashiwaju expressed satisfaction with the level of creativity and ingenuity displayed by the pupils across the zones which he described as awesome and incredible.I must confess to you that with the level of the creative design and painting skills displayed by these pupils, it is obvious that the country is well endowed with talents and the future is very bright for the kids that's participated in the competition he notedAccording to him: "For Pupils of ages between 7 and 12 years to put up this fantastic performance by interpreting the theme 'Mum like no other, noodles like no other' without the aid or assistance of their teachers is really incredible. With what I have seen so far, I am sure the judges will have a real battle choosing the winners,he said.

Mr. Ashiwaju further explained that Dufil Prima Foods Plc, introduced the inter school Art competition among primary school pupils in consonance with Indomie current theme campaign 'Mother like no other, Noodles like no other.He maintained that the competition is to bring out the creative intuition in the pupils between the ages of 7 and 12 whose schools are members of Indomie Fan Club by tasking their brain to draw and show how special their mothers are.Ashiwaju revealed that the first six pupils will win a whopping sum of one hundred and twenty five thousand naira (N125, 000.00) worth of scholarship and a Play Station each for their efforts.The second category of another Six pupils said he, will smile home with seventy five thousand naira (N75,000.00) worth of scholarship and a Play Station each while the third position for another six pupils will win a Play Station each.He further disclosed that apart from the individual prizes accruable to the winners, the six schools that produce the first prize winners also stand a chance to win Desktop computers for bringing out the best in their wards.It would be recalled however that Indomie launched its new theme campaign with the theme 'Mother like no other, Noodles like no other in the twilight of the year 2011 and has since become a very popular advertisement among Nigerians especially children whom are the target audience.