2. SPECIAL PROJECTS
UNIVERSITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
BACKGROUND
MTN Nigeria is part of the MTN Group, Africa’s leading cellular telecommunications
company. On May 16, 2001, MTN became the first GSM network to make a call
following the globally lauded Nigerian GSM auction conducted by the Nigerian
Communications Commission earlier in the year. Thereafter the company launched full
commercial operations beginning with Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
MTN paid $285m for one of four GSM licenses in Nigeria in January 2001. To date, in
excess of US$1.8 billion has been invested building mobile telecommunications
infrastructure in Nigeria.
Since launch in August 2001, MTN has steadily deployed its services across Nigeria. It
now provides services in 223 cities and towns, more than 10,000 villages and
communities and a growing number of highways across the country, spanning the 36
states of the Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Many of these villages and
communities are being connected to the world of telecommunications for the first time
ever.
The company subsists on the core brand values of leadership, relationship, integrity,
innovation and “can-do”. It prides itself on its ability to make the impossible possible,
connecting people with friends, family and opportunities.
MTN’s overriding mission is to be a catalyst for Nigeria’s economic growth and
development, helping to unleash Nigeria’s strong developmental potential not only
through the provision of world class communications but also through innovative and
sustainable corporate social responsibility initiatives.
The MTN Board of Directors is made up of 16 individuals out of whom 10 are expats.
The Board is headed by Dr. P Dozie an industrialist and member of the Nigerian Vision
2010 Committee.
MTN FOUNDATION
In 2004 MTN established the MTN Foundation. The MTN Foundation is the vehicle
through which MTN Nigeria implements its Corporate Social Responsibility program.
The Foundation was created with a focus on giving back to society and impacting the
quality of lives in the community in which MTN finds itself in. The foundation has three
main area of focus, namely: Health, Education and Economic Empowerment.
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3. The MTN foundation is headed by Amina Oyagbola the Director who is assisted by 8
members that make up the foundation’s board. Amb Hamza Ahmadu the Wali of Sokoto
is the Chairman.The foundation is 100% funded by MTN Nigeria which dedicates 1% of
its profits to the fund and also pays it’s staffing, logistics, publicity, etc expenses.
Below is the list of projects under its Education Portfolio which the foundation has
undertaken:
Project Description Status Milestones
MTNF-UNICEF
Child Friendly
School Initiative
An initiative aimed
at improving
infrastructure in
primary schools and
strengthening the
school management
mechanisms and the
quality of education.
Project
implementation
ongoing at 1 public
primary school
each, in Bauchi,
Delta and Lagos
States.
March 2006:
Baseline study
completed. May-
Oct. 2006:
Concluded training
of teachers in key
subjects. November
2006: Renovation
work completed in
Bauchi. Delta and
Lagos also
completed in
February 2007.
MTNF
SchoolsConnect in
partnership with
Schoolnet Nigeria
A project designed
to enable teachers
and pulpils in
secondary schools
to gain confidence
and understanding
of how Information
Communication
Technology can add
value to their lives
and learning. - 21
computers with
internet connectivity
and subject
software.
Phase 3 completed
in Bauchi, Ogun,
Cross River States
and King's College
Lagos. Phase 4 to be
implemented in
Ekiti, Imo and Niger
States. Phase 5 to be
implemented in
Bayelsa and Kano
as well as the
Demonstration
School for the Deaf,
Kaduna.
Phases 1 to 3 impact
85,640 students and
3,817 teachers.
Total impact of
Phases 1 to 5 will be
58 schools across 14
states.
Completed.
MTNF Universities
Connect Phase 2 in
partnership with
NetLibrary Nig.
Ltd
An innovative
project designed to
provide access to
information in
Nigeria through the
Commenced
implementation at
Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria,
Kaduna - 128
Phase 2 completed
in February 2007.
Phase 1 was
commissioned at the
University of Lagos
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4. provision of digital
access and
infrastructure to
Institutions /
Universities in
Nigeria.
computers with
interconnectivity
and access to over
5,500 libraries
worldwide and 300
published works.
in December 2005.
MTNF- MUSON
Music Scholars in
partnership with
MUSON (Musical
Society of Nigeria)
A music scholarship
programme at the
MUSON School of
Music targetted at
students and
designed to offer
talented young
people from less
priviledged
backgrounds the
opportunity to
acquire qualitative
music education
leading to the
MUSON Diploma
in Music.
Session commenced
in September 2006.
MTN Foundation
appreciation concert
held on December
15 2006.
Beautification of
King's College
Lagos Football
Pitch in
partnership with
Newton & David
Floral Decorators
To create an
appealing
environment for
recreation and
physical
development of the
students. To create
the opportunity for
Kings College
Lagos, to generate
revenue through
renting of the
football pitch for
events and support
the development of
the education
infrastructure.
Project commenced
in February 2007.
Resurfacing of
grounds and
perimeter fencing in
progress.
Completed
MTNF School Bags
& Exercise Books
To create the
opportunity for
alternative form of
Project to
commence in mid
2007.
On going
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5. assistance to schools
through the
provision of
working tools.
It would be worth noting that during the Presidents meeting in Lagos, MTN had
suggested assistance to AUN in form of computers, staff and student exchange, student
visits, micro wave link. A fact finding delegation to be lead by the Director of MTN
Foundation, Amina Oyagbola would visit AUN to see the best possible ways in MTN can
be off assistance.
AREAS IN WHICH MTN CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE
The following are areas in which MTN could provide help in addition to the ones
mentioned above:
1. Sporting Facilities:
• Refurbishing of the 2 soccer training pitches on the permanent site.
• The basketball court within the student recreation area.
• Soccer or Basketball kits.
2. Student Scholarships:
• MTN Foundation could contribute to “adopt a student” program, where the
foundation would choose an indigent student (s) and sponsor their education at
AUN.
• Create a chair for programs in software engineering, telecommunications,
business or finance.
3. Equipment:
• Donate computers and other hardware for the telecommunications lab.
• Computers could also be donated to the AUN community school.
• Sport/ playground equipment for the ACS.
4. Capital Projects Fund:
• Contribute to a capital fund for an SITC or SBE buildings.
• Student Recreation facility building fund.
• Landscaping from the Gate to the proposed admin building area.
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Key: The bold type face on projects 3 and 5 represents
the relevance of that project to AUN
6. For its part, MTN’s name could be associated with any of the projects for which they are
the major donors and the firm would also get national and international publicity and
goodwill. It’s worth mentioning here that since the spring of 2006, MTN has recouped its
initial investment of $ 1.8 million.
Sameer Yeshwanth
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7. For its part, MTN’s name could be associated with any of the projects for which they are
the major donors and the firm would also get national and international publicity and
goodwill. It’s worth mentioning here that since the spring of 2006, MTN has recouped its
initial investment of $ 1.8 million.
Sameer Yeshwanth
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