MTNF PARTNERS JAMB ON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

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A leading Telecommunication company, MTN Nigeria, has indicated its desire to partner with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) in the implementation of its annual Scholarship Award Scheme.The Executive Secretary, MTN-Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, stated this when she visited the National Headquarters of the Board on Thursday, 29th February, 2024.According to her, the MTN Foundation was interested in holding meaningful discussion with JAMB on the modalities for shortlisting ten top deserving candidates based on its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination(UTME)for 2022 and  2023 academic years respectively. Furthermore, Ms. Sanya disclosed that the MTN Scholarship Scheme was part of the youth development initiative of the Telco, and is aimed at providing an annual platform for recognising and rewarding dedicated, high performing students across Nigerian public tertiary institutions.She also stated that the Foundation had created three scholarship categories to cater for the diverse needs of exceptional scholars ranging from MTN Science and Technology Scholarship (MTN STS), MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (MTN SBS) and Top 10 UTME Scholarships.To be deemed eligible for consideration  under the scheme, candidates must have a minimum of Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.5 otherwise called Upper Grade or above for those in tertiary institutions. She addede that MTN Foundation had always relied solely on JAMB to furnish it with the requisite data otherwise  the Foundation would be contending with the task of verifying spurious claims of excellence. She explained that her organisation’s flagship programme  dated back to 2010 and was only open to eligible 300 level students studying Science and Technology-related courses in Nigerian public tertiary institutions (universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education). In all, 300 successful students are awarded scholarships worth N200,000 annually till graduation, provided they maintain the required grades.She said the meeting was in furtherance of her organisation’s request made to JAMB to furnish it with the list of top ten scorers in 2022 and 2023 UTME adding that the 2024 edition promises to be different as the telcos had  raised the award money to N400,000.In his remarks, the Registrar, who was represented at the meeting by the Director, Test Administration Department,  Mrs Ville Pius, said the Board was working on the request made and that any consequent action would be guided by the provisions of the Data Protection Act. She point out that the revised data protection right need expressed  approval and consent of the candidates concerned adding that the Board would communicate with the Foundation as soon as necessary approvals are secured.