Leading ICT company, MTN Nigeria, has reiterated its commitment to bridging the educational divide in the country.
This is even as it has announced the 17th edition of its flagship employee volunteer initiative, Y’ello Care, where MTNers have the unique opportunity to contribute their resources – time, money and more – towards worthy causes.
Themed “Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow”, this year’s edition, which will be for 30 days in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of MTN Group, aims to address educational disparities in underserved rural and remote communities.
The chief corporate services & sustainability officer, MTN Nigeria, Tobe Okigbo, in a press statement, released on Saturday, said, Y’ello Care is about the MTN ecosystem giving back and contributing their time, money, and resources to make a positive impact.
“This year, we’re focusing on education in remote areas, supporting three projects that will provide access to quality education for young Nigerians,” Okigbo added.
In 30 days, MTN staff will come together using their resources to rebuild a classroom for 996 students at Iwerekun Community High School, Lakowe, Lagos.
“Our first key project is a school. We’ve visited the school; we’ll rebuild a classroom ourselves as MTN staff and we will support two other projects. Our target is towards providing education for the youth of this country. This effort seeks to bridge the educational divide and empower young people to reach their full potential,” Okigbo disclosed.
In addition, MTNers will be supporting the KNOSK Charity Education Initiative (Study Better Packs) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)’s Safe School Initiative spearheaded by the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre.
This commitment is particularly crucial in Africa, where educational disparities continue to hinder progress. According to UNESCO, over one-fifth of children aged 6 to 11 in sub-Saharan Africa are out of school, representing the highest rate of educational exclusion globally. This crisis is further compounded by challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to learning materials, and a shortage of qualified teachers. In Nigeria, the situation mirrors these broader trends, with a significant portion of children in rural and remote areas facing similar obstacles to quality education.
The 30-day project, which kicked off on June 1, will unite thousands of MTN employees in a shared mission to make a lasting impact on educational access and quality.
