Shettima welcomes MTN’s N1bn donation to food support programme

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday welcomed the donation of N1 billion to the Federal Government’s Food Support Programme and 4,600 units of digital devices for distribution to schools by telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria.

Shettima said MTN’s gesture in support of the FG’s efforts to address hardship in the country is worthy of emulation and indicates its commitment to the development of the Nigerian economy.

“I am hugely proud of your (MTN’s) stability as a company and commitment to the progress of our country,” Shettima told the Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, revealed details of the meeting in a statement signed Friday titled, ‘VP Shettima seeks more support as MTN donates N1bn, 4600 digital devices.’

Shettima promised that the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Office of the National Security Adviser would manage the donation judiciously.

The VP said the MTN team would liaise with his office to develop the beneficiary criteria and facilitate the distribution of 4,600 digital devices, each pre-installed with the U-lesson application, to secondary schools in the six geopolitical zones.

He expressed confidence that the company’s gesture would go a long way in supporting the government’s efforts to address the situation in the country, including support for the educational needs of the poor and vulnerable.

While calling on other companies in the country to emulate MTN in Corporate Social Responsibility, the VP assured the business community that the President Bola Tinubu administration remains pro-business and that its policies will soon begin to manifest for all to see.

“We have witnessed a couple of changes in the industry, but you have remained stable and strong. On behalf of my boss, President Bola Tinubu, I want to sincerely thank you for this gesture,” Shettima concluded.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of MTN Nigeria commended the Federal Government for its efforts to revive the economic fortunes of the country through various initiatives rolled out across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government.

Ndukwe pledged the company’s support to the present administration, noting that the gesture is in line with MTN Nigeria’s shared value objectives of ‘the AMBITION 2025 strategy’, where MTN seeks to support strategic initiatives of the federal government.

He said the N1bn donation “aims to support the most vulnerable, marginalised, and underserved communities, ensuring no one is left behind through increased collaboration and partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

He also expressed hope that the devices donated by the company will support the FG’s objective to increase digital literacy in secondary schools and improve creativity, analytical thinking, adaptability, and students’ access to current information in science and technology.