MTN Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of MTN Nigeria, said it has invested over N10 billion in social projects since its incorporation in 2004.
A Director of MTN Foundation, Mr Dennis Okoro gave the figure in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
Okoro said that the investment was made in the key areas of education, health and economic empowerment in 341 locations across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said that the foundation was passionate about improving the quality of life in Nigeria and contributing to socio-economic growth.
According to him, MTN Foundation is constantly seeking opportunities to contribute to the development of the communities wherein it operates.
“In line with its continued commitment to support state government’s efforts at reducing the security challenges in the country, the Foundation recently donated security vehicles to the Rivers State Government under the third phase of its Security Support Project (SSP).
“The gesture is in furtherance of the Foundation’s commitment to improving the quality of life in Nigerian communities.
“It is common knowledge that security of life and property is critical to the growth and development of any state and is therefore an area that should not be left for government alone,’’ he said.
The Director said that Rivers State had been a beneficiary of several other MTN Foundation initiatives.
He said that such initiatives include the MTNF Rural Telephone, the MTNF Disability Support, MTNF Learning Facility Support, MTNF Scholarship Scheme for students, Widows Empowerment Scheme and now MTNF Security Support Projects.
Okoro said that through the two previous phases of the MTNF-SSP, the Foundation had presented 115 fully equipped security patrol vehicles with communication gadgets to 19 state governments and the FCT.
“Ondo, Lagos, Enugu, Kogi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi and Bayelsa benefitted from the second phase of the project.
“Phase one of the project witnessed the donation of fully kitted security vehicles to Anambra, Akwa-Ibom, Bauchi, Delta, Oyo, Ogun, Jigawa, Imo, Katsina, Kano, Plateau and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“The third phase will see Rivers, Abia, Benue, Cross River, Edo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger, Osun, Sokoto and Zamafra states benefitting from the Foundation’s provision of fully kitted security vehicles to enhance security operations in these states,’’ he said.
The statement quoted Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, who was represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, as commending the MTN Foundation for keying into his administration’s vision of providing adequate security in the state.
It quoted the governor as saying that the initiative would complement efforts made by the government in securing the lives and properties of the state’s inhabitants.
“We are calling on other service providers to emulate MTN and support government’s effort in providing adequate security for residents of the state, as well as the entire country,’’ he was quoted as saying.
