The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat has commended the MTN Foundation for empowering the youths and promoting academic excellence in public Tertiary Institutions through its scholarship programmes.
He gave the commendation on Tuesday at the 2023 Award Ceremony and Alumni induction of MTN Scholarships (Science & Technology) for blind students and top 10 UTME candidates held at the Roof Top MTN Plaza, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.
Dr. Hamzat, who was represented by the Special Adviser, Taxation and Revenue, Mr. Abdulkabir Ogungbo, said it is very encouraging to see children and youths having access to various opportunities provided by corporate organisations, including MTN, to acquire skills and knowledge in the new media and technology.
According to him, MTN as a corporate organisation has contributed to the socio-economic development of the economy by creating job opportunities and empowerment initiatives across different strata of society, adding that the different initiatives have enabled the youths to realise and achieve their potential using the MTN Foundation as leverage.
The Deputy Governor emphasised that the present administration, through the implementation of the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda is working in synergy with the organised private sector and other stakeholders to ensure the provision of needed platform for children and youths to stand shoulder to shoulder with their peers on the global platform despite physical challenges.
In his words: “There is ability in disability, which is why our administration in Lagos State is a strong proponent and advocate of equal opportunity for all. The opportunity afforded students living with visual/audio-visual challenges to acquire knowledge and education in any field of study from any public Universities, Colleges of Education and Polytechnics through the grant of scholarships by MTN Foundation is highly commendable”.
“There are emergent opportunities for our children and youths as the future of our country to acquire needed skills and knowledge in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and launch themselves into the highest levels of artificial intelligence and robotics engineering”, he added.
On behalf of the Lagos State government, the Deputy Governor congratulated all the beneficiaries and inductees, charging them to move with renewed hope into the future and contribute to the development and growth of the Nation.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of MTN Foundation, Prince Julius Adewale Adelusi-Adeluyi said the MTN Scholarships, under the Youth Development Cause of MTN Foundation, is an annual award that seeks to recognise and reward qualified high-performing students in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions. He implored all the beneficiaries to take advantage of the Scholarship and use it as a springboard to success.
The Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation, Mrs. Odunayo Sanya said hundreds of thousands of students applied for the scholarships but only the best were selected, adding that over 300 students have benefitted from the Scholarship.
She affirmed the Foundation’s commitment to the development of Nigerian youths through Skills, Entrepreneurship and Scholarships.
