Undergraduates receive science education lift through MTNF scholarship

The development of human capacity in the areas of Science and technology has no doubt been seen as the way forward for the growth of many economies with Nigeria not being an exception.

It is against this thrust of development that MTN foundation recently awarded 1,205 200 level students with two hundred naira scholarships to study courses in science and technology in 2014.

Hamzat Ahmadu, chairman MTN foundation who was represented by Aishatu Sadauki, Director MTN Foundation (MTNF) disclosed this in Lagos during the 5th MTNF Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme and 3rd MTNF Scholarship Scheme For Blind Students from the South-West zone.

Sadauki reveals that 167 brilliant blind students will receive scholarships to study any course of their choice.

According to her, “Today, we are formally presenting scholarship awards to 367 brilliant Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions in the South-West zone. This comprises of 340 Science and Technology students and 27 blind students”.

She observed that previously, successful students from the Eastern and Northern parts of Nigeria received scholarship awards which were presented to them in Owerri, Imo, and Abuja.

Sadauki further pointed out that the awardees were students who have demonstrated the “Can Do” spirit which is one of the core values of MTN Nigeria.

“Thus, we are here today to celebrate academic excellence in students who have worked extremely hard and who unquestionably deserve an opportunity to continue to pursue their dreams of a higher education. Today, we also recognise the exemplary effort of a special group of students who have to overcome daily challenges in their quest for a brighter future”, she said

The MTNF director congratulated the beneficiaries and assured that the MTN Foundation will continue to support them as long as they maintain the required Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) scores every year.

“We make and fulfil this same pledge every year and this is evident today with the scholarships for beneficiaries,” she said.

Earlier on Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary of the Foundation said the scholarship was based on merit as over 7,000 applied for it but over 1,500 students sat for the test.

Ugboma urged the beneficiaries to remain in the scheme because after graduation, the Foundation would see them through gaining employment.

Okechukwu Aninweke, the Head of Lagos zonal office of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said the world was going toward Science and Technology.

Aninweke commended the foundation for giving awards to blind students irrespective of the courses they were studying.

He urged the beneficiaries to live up to expectations by sustaining the scholarships.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Temitope Osho thanked the foundation for the gesture, saying that it would motivate him and the other students to study harder and would also lift some of the financial burden off the shoulders of their parents.