By peter egwuatu
The MTN Foundation, a CSR arm of MTN Nigeria, for the past 10 years has impacted on the lives of Nigerians as it has committed over N11.5billion in various projects.   The Foundation has been able to achieve this working through a model. In this review, Vanguard, takes a look at the Foundation’s model that has sustained them so far

As at January 2015, the MTN Foundation (MTNF) has spent N11.5 billion on various areas to assist on Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR in the area of education, scholarship, women empowerment, music growth among others.

Speaking on this development,  Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Pascal Dozie, said,         “We decided to back the process up with sufficient resources both in terms of finances and capacity to execute. Thus, we decided that MTN donates one per cent of its profit after tax to the Foundations activities to carry out CSI activities in Nigeria”, Dozie said.

Having made that decision, what came next was the selection of capable people to make up the nucleus of the Foundation.”

The telecommunications company has been doing well with the Foundation it set up 10 years ago barely five years after it started business in Nigeria then regarded with uncertainty by investors. Not only did MTN Nigeria help to inspire confidence for would-be investors, it has made the wellbeing of individuals in whose communities it operates all over the country paramount. This it has done through the MTN Foundation (MTNF).

“Our mission was to be the best. We wanted to be a very serious company that could provide quality service in telecommunications to the country”, said, Chairman MTN Nigeria, Dr. Pascal Dozie.

Dr. Dozie,said the vision was to participate in all aspects of lives of Nigerians. “We want to at least help in the areas of education, health and economic empowerment. Every moment about the Foundation is a proud one. I wish we could do more, but we are doing our best.”

Since inception, according to Dozie, the goals of the company about the Foundation were clear cut; “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) would not only be MTNs business strategy, it will also become the company’s way of life.”

For Dozie, every organization has a responsibility and it can either accept that or not. “We wanted to be a good corporate citizen and that has been the hallmark of all our operations. Good corporate citizenship means that we identify ourselves with the aspirations of Nigerians.”

The company carried out a study in 2003 on its Corporate Social Investment Initiative; the result of which made it clear that health, education and economic empowerment would be the focus of the Foundation.  Interestingly, as at 2015, the MTN Foundation has over 344  project sites and 36 project categories spread across 36 states of the Federation in Abuja.

According to Dozie, the selection was done using the same principles of the MTN board in terms of quality and characteristics of the individuals. “We have a model. We looked for people with impeccable character; people whose values can be emulated; individuals who are not tempted, corrupt and have no skeletons in their cupboards; individuals that can positively contribute to the system,” he stated.The Foundation is made up of board members, patrons, eminent and experienced Nigerians and statesmen who watch and serve as the third eye of the MTNF board.

On the MTNF board, there is a former deputy governor, a former minister of health, an ambassador, a diplomat, an educationist and a host of other men and women of integrity who give the Foundation credibility. It is therefore not surprising that it has been well with the Foundation, which has achieved most of its objectives and hopes to maintain the tempo and be impactful to ensure sustainability.