Assessing MTN’s quest to meet societal needs through CSI
When a community provides the enabling environment for an organisation to carry out its operations within the community’s locality, conventional wisdom across the world is that the organisation should also reciprocate the gesture by showing some form of responsibility towards making life better for the host community.
There is little or no doubt that responsible organisations are responding to this challenge with their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives which does not only centre on the integration of social, environmental, and economic considerations into the decision-making structures and processes of business but also recognises society’s needs and finding more effective ways to satisfy existing and anticipated demands in order to help such business grow sustainably.
Corporate Social Investment (CSI), as a sub-component of CSR, encompasses investments by an organisation that berths projects with strong developmental approach to benefit and uplift communities with no intention of increasing company profit.
Ultimately, it aims to uplift communities in such a way that the quality of life is generally improved and safeguarded. MTN Nigeria, a major player in Nigeria’s Information and Communication Technology space, has been driving this campaign of investing sustainably in its host communities through its Foundation.
I ncorporated about a decade ago (2004), the MTN Foundation offers a well-tailored and monitored platform through which MTN Nigeria leverages to drive its CSR initiatives throughout the country.
Funded by about one percent PAT (Profit after Tax) from the telecoms giant, the Foundationpresently has 341 projects in virtually all the nooks and crannies of the country through its CSIProgramme which borders on health, education and economic empowerment.
These core areas, Funmi Onajide, general manager, Corporate Affairs MTN, at a recent trainingorganised by BusinessDay for journalists on effective CSR skills, said were carefully selected by the organisation as strategic needs that impacts every member of the Nigerian society.
“Having critically examined the Nigerian society where we operate, we believe that there is a huge need to channel our resources to support the education and health sectors, and also empower Nigerians.
Education
In its bid to buoy academic excellence, the Foundation designed a Science & Technology Laboratory Project aimed at renovating, equipping and converting school laboratories into state-of-the-art facilities.
The project is geared towards improving learning and practical teaching of core science subjects such as Chemistry, Physics and Biology in public secondary schools in order to enhance students’ academic performances in these subjects.
Some of the schools that have benefited from this gesture by the telecoms giant include Vetland Senior Grammar School, Ifako Ijaye; Oshodi Comprehensive Senior High School, Oshodi; Newland Senior Secondary School, Tolu; and King Ado High School, Isale Eko; all in Lagos.
In Edo State, Idia College, Benin City; Edo Boys’ High School, Benin City and Sacred Heart Girls’ Model Secondary School, Ubiaja, are amongst schools in South-Western Nigeria that now have their science laboratories wearing a new look courtesy of the Foundation.
The Foundation also successfully renovated Government College, Umuahia; Girls’ Secondary Commercial School, Aba; Girls’ Secondary School, Umuahia; and Ibeku High School, Umuahia all in Abia, South-Eastern Nigeria.
Other beneficiaries of the initiative in the FCT are: Government Secondary School, Gwagwalada; Government Secondary School, Kwali; Government Science Secondary School, Abaji; and Government Secondary School, Kuje.
Keeping true to its promise in extending the gesture to all the nooks and crannies of the country, Government Pilot Secondary School, Daura; Government Girls’ Pilot Secondary School, Kankia; Government Pilot Secondary School, Mani and Government College Pilot, Funtua have also benefited.
The Foundation also extends its drive for academic excellence to the higher cadre of learning with the Universities Connect project. Designed to stimulate building of digital libraries in tertiary institutions and consequently aid students and lecturers with their research work and study, the project has been executed in four universities across the nation.
Other educational support initiatives driven by the Foundation include: Restructured Schools Connect project, Science & Technology Scholarship Scheme, Learning Facility Supply project and Learning Support Materials initiative.
All these initiatives have reasonably supported academic activities and by extension developed human capital across the six geopolitical zones where these initiatives were launched.
Health Sector
There is no doubt that the nation’s health sector is plagued with several challenges ranging from shortage of manpower, to lack of adequate funding of the sector by the government and poor quality of service amongst others. These setbacks have become more pronounced in the face of a growing population with more Nigerians finding it difficult accessing medicare.
The MTN Foundation launched its Medical Intervention Scheme (MIS) to assist Nigerians with chronic but treatable ailments in dire need of medical attention. In its five years of existence, over 50 beneficiaries across the country have benefited from the scheme. The Foundation also runs the Sickle Cell project which delivers preventive healthcare management services and essential drugs to sickle cell carriers around the country. The project which is in its fifth phase, has provided services to over 7,293 sickle cell disease sufferers and carriers.
This, the foundation also pledged to continue through its Sickle Cell clinics in Lagos, Edo, Delta and Kano state.
The MTN Foundation also supports hospitals in Nigeria through the provision of modern Haemodialysis and Mammography centres for the treatment of people with kidney-related diseases and screening for breast cancer respectively.
The project is executed with the Public Private Partnership model with MTN being the private sector partner, providing funds and engaging project consultants for the project execution. Other health support services being undertaken by the Foundation include Y’ello Doctor project and Eyesight Restoration Intervention Scheme
Economic Empowerment
As part of its effort to bridge the skill gap in the country and create employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and further enhancing their social inclusion, the MTN Foundation has successfully awarded scholarships to about 300 blind students.
The Foundation also championed the provision of basic equipment for up-to-date training and qualification of technicians through its Youth Skills Development Project.
Other initiatives by the Foundation to empower youths and women include: Security Support project, Skills Acquisition project for Persons with Disabilities, Disability Support project and Widows Empowerment Scheme.
With over 341 project sites across the federation including the FCT and at a cost of over N10 billion, in its over 10 years of existence, the Foundation has no doubt made significant impact and also berth a new model for good corporate citizenship, endorsed by a wide variety of stakeholders, Government, Regulators, Tax authorities, and its beneficiaries.
ODINAKA MBONU