Leading digital mobile operator, MTN Nigeria Communications, says it has extended its annual scholarship programme to visually-impaired students.
Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, said this at the commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Abuja.
According to her, the extension of the scholarship programme to the visually impaired is one of the steps the mobile operator has taken to ensure that people living with disability realise their potential.
She said, "This year, the Foundation also extended its annual scholarships to 133 visually-impaired students in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.
"Indeed, the MTN Foundation remains committed to transforming individuals and communities and with over 319 project sites in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, MTNF is impacting millions of lives across the country in the key areas of health, education and economic empowerment. "Additionally, in furtherance of efforts to mainstream disability within the Millennium Development Goals, the MTN Foundation is enhancing the current Universities Connect Project by installing software packages in MTNF digital libraries in ABU Zaria, University of Lagos, University of Benin and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka for the benefit of visually impaired students."
She said there were not enough skills-acquisition centres in the country and this prompted the organisation in 2009 to initiate Disability Support Project, a project aimed at empowering people living with physical disability by providing them with mobility aid and appliances to enhance their independence.
Ugboma said, "This project is currently in its fourth phase and to date, wheel chairs, crutches, hearing aids, Braille machines and wristwatches, among other aids and appliances, have been distributed to 15,000 beneficiaries across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
"In continuation of the efforts to motivate and empower people living with disability, the Foundation commenced a pilot micro-credit scheme, and has given loans to some beneficiaries in the first phase of this project.
"The loans are in form of funding for their businesses. In addition, the beneficiaries have been trained by Development Exchange Centre, a Micro Finance Institute, on how to run businesses such as call centres, hair dressing salons, tailoring outfits and so on. This pilot phase took place in Abuja and will soon be extended to beneficiaries in other cities."
She added that another project, MTN Foundation Skills Acquisition Project, was initiated to empower people with physical disability by training them in various vocational skills such as tailoring and fashion design, bead making, welding and shoe making.
