BY DAYO ADESULU

After a stiff contest between some schools  in Lagos, Akanni Yusuf, student of Jubilee Model Senior Secondary School, Coker, Surulere emerged winner of the MTN Spelling Bee competition. This was announced at the closing of 21 Days Y’ello Care programme held at the Golden Plaza, Ikoyi.

The Human Resource Executive, MTN, Mrs Amina Oyagbola at the end of 21 days programme where volunteer staff went to schools to teach students, said that the initiative is an annual event that provides an opportunity for MTNers to make a collective contribution to the communities where they have been working for years.

Speaking on the overview of staff teaching events of the last 21 days, Oyagbola noted that the activities were inspiring as the aims of promoting a reading culture among school children, providing necessary educational materials to students to empower learning and promoting gender equality in education by investing in the education of the girl-child, were fulfilled based on responses from students across visited schools.

She said to achieve the goal, six reading clubs were set up in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, 15 libraries were upgraded in schools across various regions of the country and teaching activities were held in 67 schools across Nigeria.

Oyagbola added that six secondary schools in Lagos participated in the Y’ello Spelling Bee competition, noting: “Special schools, vocational and technical schools were also not left out of the event. Some of the schools visited include Pacelli School for the Blind and Patrick School/Language Centre for People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Commenting on the various contributions of MTN Staff towards Y’ello Care,  she noted that over 2500 MTNers signed up for activities for this year’s Y’ello Care, saying that about N600,000 has been raised toward the Girl-Child Education Pledge, urging those who are yet to pledge to do so.

Her words: “Over the past years, MTNers have joined forces with agencies of federal and state governments, various non-governmental organisations and notable personalities to raise public awareness about various social and environmental issues.

According to her, some of the areas they have focused on in the past include the fight against malaria, providing care to the sick, orphans and those living with disability, as well as promoting environmental responsibility through tree planting, and beautifying the environment through painting and sanitation.”

Oyagbola, however, thanked the State Ministries of Education, Universal Basic Education Board, Proact Educational Services and other stakeholders who made the programme a success.