52 blind MTN scholarship beneficiaries graduate

A total of 52 beneficiaries of the MTN Foundation scholarship for blind students have graduated from the Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo State.

The scholarship covered tuition and book allowances for one year, and is renewable after maintaining a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.5.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma explained that the scheme is aimed at providing academic scholarship annually to eligible blind students in accredited public tertiary institutions across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.

Ugboma, who was represented by MTN’s Regional Trade Marketing Manager, South-West, Akinolu Oludiran, noted that the scheme, currently in its fourth phase, has awarded scholarships to 451 new and returning awardees. She stressed that under the scheme, each beneficiary received scholarship worth N200, 000 annually.

She commended the students for their resilience, while urging the graduates to take advantage of the training they had received as they pursue other goals in life.

“We enhanced phase three of the scheme by including an employability training, which will prepare the beneficiaries for the labour market on graduation. The workshop content included, contemporary ICT skills, JAWS Software training, motivational talks and employment opportunities for blind students,” she said.

Also, Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria Akinwale Goodluck, commended the beneficiaries for the zeal they showed all through the programme.

“Education is pivotal to the growth and development of any nation and everyone deserves equal access to it. The challenges against qualitative education in the country affect all categories of students.

“This is why the MTN Foundation expanded its scholarship scheme to accommodate one more category of students: the blind. With the inclusion of employability and digital training, we believe they have been empowered to contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the country,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Oluwatoyosi Lawal, thanked the foundation for enabling him and his fellow awardees complete their studies, thereby offering them opportunity to compete favourably with their sighted mates.