By Laju Iren

From left: Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Ukpanah Utoh ; Principal, Lanre Awolokun Senior High School, Gbagada, Mrs. Adams Ibironke Abiodun; Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma and Project Manager, MTN 21 Days of Y’ello Care, 2013, Mr. Omojola Felix during the donation of a digital library to the school, in Lagos.

Ever since MTN Nigeria began its annual Corporate Social Responsibility programme, Y’ello 21 days of care in 2007, the company’s helping hands have been extended to improving the health sector, preserving the environment, helping the less privileged, and a host of other activities.

For MTN Nigeria however, almost no other sector has received as much attention from this programme as the education sector. It was not a surprise therefore, that when the 2015 edition was launched at the MTN golden plaza in Lagos on Monday, the focus was again on education.

Chief Executive Officer, MTNN, Michael Ikpoki, speaking on the theme: ‘Investing in Education for All,’ said that the company considers it “important to increase and consolidate on our efforts to contribute to our nation’s educational sector, especially in the area of digital learning.

Indeed, as limited access to quality education continues to plague Africa’s growth and development, the role of digital learning brings to the table immediate, diverse and customized access to world-class education and beyond that, a multiplicity of opportunities for advancement.”

Ikpoki is not alone in the belief that digital learning will solve the many challenges bedeviling the education sector in Nigeria. With the country failing to meet the 2015 deadline for the Education For All- Millennium Development Goal, EFA-MDG, experts have in recent times championed the digital way as an opportunity to overcome the issues of access to and quality of education across the country. Akinwale Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive at MTNN also lent his voice to the campain.

“We think that education is fundamental to the growth of any economy and cannot be over-emphasized. That is why we focus year in, year out on education. But this year, we are taking it up a notch and going digital. We are going to use what is primarily our core business to drive the objectives of the Federal Government with regards to education.”

During these 21 days, staff volunteers at MTNN will establish digital learning facilities in libraries in twelve schools nationwide; organise book reading sessions for students across the country; embark on the Train the Teacher Project as well as the Y’ello Tutor Project among others.

Continuing Ikpoki said: “This initiative is yet another way we demonstrate our commitment as an organization to corporate social responsibility. Over the next 21 days, we will show through various community building activities which our employees will engage in; activities which underscore our recognition of the support of the various communities in which we operate and our commitment to improving and transforming these same communities.”

The launch of the Y’ello 21 days of care 2015 was a fun-filled event which featured an in-house quiz competition anchored by the host of the television show, ‘Who wants to be a millionaire?’ Mr. Frank Edoho. Musician and MTN Brand Ambassador Iyanya, was also on ground to entertain the audience.