52 blind MTNF scholarship beneficiaries graduate

OVER 50 students who benefited from the MTN Foundation Scholarship for Blind Students have graduated from the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo State.

The graduands were awarded the scholarship after successfully undergoing the selection exercise conducted across the country. The scholarship covered tuition and book allowances for one year, and was renewable after maintaining a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.5.

The MTN Foundation Scholarship Scheme for Blind Students is aimed at providing academic scholarship annually to eligible blind students in accredited public tertiary institution across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. Currently in its fourth phase, MTNF has awarded scholarships to 451 new and returning awardees. Under the scheme, each beneficiary receives scholarship worth N200, 000 yearly.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, The Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, represented by MTN’s Regional Trade Marketing Manager, South-West, Akinolu Oludiran, commended the students for their resilience.

He reserved special praise for beneficiaries who received the scholarship more than once. He charged 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,” said Oludiran.

A beneficiary, Oluwatoyosi Lawal, thanked the Foundation for enabling him and his fellow awardees to complete his studies. According to Lawal, the scholarship availed him the opportunity to compete favourably with his sighted mates.

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,” said Goodluck, adding: “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”.