Akunyili, others eulogize MTN on orphanage care

Information and Communications Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili and the Chairperson, Committee on Nigerians in Diaspora at the House of Representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa have commended MTN Nigeria for showing love to orphans and other less privileged members of the society.

The commendations were given by the dignitaries following the donation of food, clothing and other household materials to various orphanages in Lagos and Enugu recently. Materials donated by MTN Nigeria to one of the orphanages were the largest single donation the orphanage has received from any corporate body since it was founded 10 years ago.

“I want to sincerely commend MTN for this wonderful gesture to these lovely children”  Professor Akunyili said at the Voice of Children International, Enugu, where MTN donated mattresses, pillows, disinfectants, mosquito nets, detergents, raincoats, nutritional drinks and other food and household items.

“MTN and the Voice of Children International are showing the world that, indeed, Nigerians are Good People from a Great Nation. We thank you for touching the lives of these young ones in our community; especially MTN for leading others in meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives,” said Prof. Akunyili”.

The minister, who physically handed over the gifts to the founder of the orphanage, Rev. Father Chidi Obinna, on behalf of MTN, urged the telecom company to make the donation a continuous exercise, and called on other corporate bodies to emulate the gesture.

At two other orphanages, the Guardian Angel Motherless babies Home, and the Cathedral of Good Shepherd Motherless Babies Home, both in Enugu, MTN donated different sets of food and household items for the comfort of the children.

The gifts were handed over by Mrs. Nwanneka Ekweremadu, the wife of the Deputy Senate President, in the presence of Ms. Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Mr. Austin Iyashere, Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs, MTN, and Mr. Daniel Nwankwo, Regional Marketing Manager, MTN.

Speaking at the presentations, Mrs. Ekweremadu and Rev. Father Obinna, expressed gratitude to the telecom company for coming to the rescue of the little children.

They prayed that God would continue to bless the company so that it can do more.
“For this laudable gesture shown to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd Motherless Babies Home, we thank MTN and pray that God will touch the hearts of more people and organisations to emulate this gesture,” said Mrs. Joyce Chukwuma, wife of the Bishop of the Anglican Church, Enugu Diocese. 

At the Great Faith Orphanage Home in Bayeku, Igbogbo, Lagos, where MTN donated another set of food and household items, Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa commended MTN’s unrelenting commitment to public welfare. Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa handed over the items on behalf of MTN in the company of Mrs. Funmi Omogbenigun, General Manager, Corporate Communications and other MTN officials.

“We are touched by the welfare items that MTN has donated to us. No company has ever done it this big and if there is any sign that a company cares, this clearly shows that MTN is a company that truly cares. I pray that its business grows bigger so they can touch more lives and hospices in our country,” said Reverend Lateefat Aroyewun, the founder of Great Faith Orphanage Home.

“We have resolved to continue to assist orphanages and hospices across Nigeria to make the lives of their inmates better,” said Mrs. Omogbenigun. By the end of February 2010, we hope to have reached at least 20 orphanages spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country”.

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