Friday, November 7, 2025 - The MTN Foundation has awarded 368 Nigerian students with annual scholarships worth N300,000 each under its 2025 Scholarship Scheme, recognizing outstanding academic performance, resilience, and innovation among young Nigerians.
The recipients include high-performing candidates from the
2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), visually impaired
students, and other exceptional scholars across Nigerian universities.
Speaking at the 2025 Scholarship Award and Alumni Induction
Ceremony in Abuja, Odunayo Sanya, executive director of MTN Foundation, said
the initiative underscored the company’s commitment to advancing science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education as a tool for
national transformation.
“The scholarships here today are STEM-focused. As a country,
we believe that science and technology can help us leapfrog and move faster
than we ever thought. That’s why, as a foundation, we continue to focus on
that. In secondary schools, we remodel and revitalise their science and
agricultural laboratories”, she said.
Sanya described the scholarship as one of excellence,
awarded only to students who have maintained a cumulative grade point average
(CGPA) above 3.5. “We had over 100,000 applications, every awardee here has
demonstrated academic distinction. This is a scholarship of excellence,” she
added.
She further informed that the foundation’s interventions go
beyond scholarships, forming part of a broader value chain that connects
education, youth development, and community empowerment.
She revealed that MTN has invested about ₦33
billion in social impact projects over the past 21 years, including ₦3.2
billion to scholarships. “We’ve directly impacted about 31
million people and indirectly reached over 100 million. For us, every number
represents a human being, a family, a community. The impact continues to ripple
long after we’re gone”, she added.
Sanya outlined the foundation’s three key focus areas,
health, youth development, and economic empowerment. “With a median age of 17,
Nigeria’s youth remain our greatest resource. That’s why we continue to invest
in their potential,” she noted.
In his remarks, Ayodele Olawande, minister of Youth
Development represented by Amina Muhammad from the ministry’s Network and
Social Mobilization Department commended MTN Foundation for its sustained
investment in human capital.
“In a world that demands innovation and resilience, events
like this remind us that Nigeria’s future is not just bright but full of
potential, fuelled by the indomitable spirit of our youth,” he said.
“For over 14 years, the MTN Scholarship Programme has been a
beacon of hope, investing ₦3.2 billion in 14,700 Nigerians through
annual awards of ₦300,000 and creating pathways to professional growth”, he added.
The minister described the beneficiaries as “architects of
tomorrow — first-class graduates who redefine academic boundaries, departmental
leaders who inspire collective progress, and innovators who turn challenges
into opportunities.”
He reaffirmed the ministry’s partnership with the private
sector to scale youth empowerment initiatives. “Together with partners like
MTN, we will transform intention into progress — one empowered life at a time,”
he said.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the awardees, Aisha
Olatunji, a scholar. described the scholarship as both financial relief and
moral encouragement.
“At a time when many students face financial challenges in pursuing their
education, you have not only lifted the burden but restored hope. This
scholarship is more than financial support; it is a call to responsibility. We
understand that this opportunity comes with the expectation to grow, lead, and
give back”, Olatunji said.
She promised that the beneficiaries would uphold the
standard of excellence and contribute meaningfully to society. “We will work
hard, excel, and use what we learn to give back. We will carry this honour with
humility and purpose, support one another, and become the change-makers our
communities need,” she added.
Olatunji also thanked parents, lecturers, and mentors for
their support, describing the recognition as “a shared celebration of sacrifice
and belief.
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