The chairman of MTN Foundation (MTNF), Mr
Pascal Dozie, has disclosed that since inception, the MTNF has spent a whopping
N11.5 billion on hugely impactful social investments in education, health, and
economic empowerment.
Dozie said that the foundation’s corporate
social responsibility would not only be MTN’s business strategy, but would also
become the company’s way of life.
The MTNF chairman, who was speaking in Lagos,
also advocated the adoption of corporate social investments and sustainability
as business models, saying that the vision was to participate in all aspects of
the lives of Nigerians. He further disclosed that the MTNF became the leading
driver of social investments through the expenditure of over N11 billion in 344
project sites and 36 project categories across the six geopolitical zones of
the country.
According to him, the foundation is funded by
up to one per cent profit-after-tax from MTN Nigeria as a way of backing the
process up with sufficient resources both in terms of finances and capacity to
execute. “The goals of the company regarding the foundation were clear cut: the
corporate social responsibility would not only be MTN’s business strategy, it
will also become the company’s way of life,” he affirmed.
He also said that what came next was the
selection of capable people to make up the nucleus of the foundation, adding
that the selection was done using the same principles of the MTN board in terms
of the quality and characteristics of the individuals.
“We have a model. We looked for people with
impeccable character, people whose values can be emulated; individuals who are
not tempted, corrupt, and have no skeletons in their cupboards, individuals
that can positively contribute to the system,” he further stated.
Dozie maintained that these people watch and
serve as the third eye of the MTNF board and give it credibility. “It is,
therefore, not surprising that it has been well with the foundation which has
achieved most of its objectives and hopes to maintain the tempo and be
impactful to ensure sustainability.
“For the MTNF, the sustainability of the
model is heavily hinged on its structure – credible individuals who are
visionary – with a board headed by Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu. One of the
individuals that have stayed with the foundation is Nonny Ugboma. Now the
foundation’s executive secretary, Ugboma joined in 2004 as a portfolio manager
in charge of education and health from her position as a financial analyst in
MTN,” he added.
Ugboma on her part said that “The Foundation
gives back to the community and that is one way MTN has been able to add value
to people in the countries where it operates.”
She informed that in May 2005, the MTNF, a
company limited by guarantee, was launched as a separate entity from MTN
Nigeria with a separate borad of directors.
According to her, as core to the model,
separating the entities has worked in creating an enviable image for the
foundation unlike many other philanthropic groups that are dependent on their
proponents.
Ugboma disclosed that a subset of the MTNF
model developed for project selection is the CRIVM model to determine the
performance of existing projects and the viability of new ones. She listed cost
effectiveness, relevance, impact, visibility, and marketability as components
of the model.
“After a project passes the CRIVM, it is
presented to the Project Appraisal Committee (PAC) that assesses every project
proposal that comes to the foundation and gets necessary clarifications where
needed. Each project proposal is assessed on the basis of alignment and
sustainability. Once the project appraisal committee is satisfied, the project
goes to the board for approval. Also, the foundation works with the MTNN
Procurement Unit to select project partners. Ugboma assured that the model
recognises an objective selection process for beneficiaries.
-Leadership
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