Lagos June 24, 2009. Nigeria’s most innovative telecommunications company, Etisalat has announced its plan to institute a merit award to reward best students in Electrical Electronics Engineering, Computer Science and Management Sciences with annual scholarships worth N100, 000 in higher institutions of learning in Lagos State. Similar scholarships are currently being enjoyed by students of Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University and Kaduna State University. Other higher institutions across the nation are also expected to benefit from the Etisalat Merit Awards.
Etisalat’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Steven Evans made this disclosure on Tuesday when he led the company’s management team on a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. He noted that Etisalat is at the moment fine tuning details of the awrds with the authorities of the Lagos State University, Yaba College of Technology and the University of Lagos in a bid to identify students deserving of the scholarships. 27 students will benefit from these scholarships every year for an initial five years.
Intimating Gov. Fashola about the telecoms company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives in Lagos State, Mr. Evans explained that the CSR scholarship initiative is one of the many ways Etisalat seeks to give back to its host communities. According to him, “Etisalat is deeply committed to impacting its host communities positively and constantly strives to support initiatives that are geared towards bettering the lot of society.”
The CEO explained that as a partner in the adopt-a-school initiative of the state government, renovation of the Akande Dahunsi Junior and Senior Secondary School Osborne Road in Ikoyi is nearing completion while the refurbishment of Rabiatu Thompson and Edward Blyden Primary Schools is ongoing. “Etisalat is committed to educational development in the country. We believe that our contribution will go a long way in ensuring that children learn in a conducive environment thereby enhancing the quality of education obtainable in public schools. Etisalat is proud to be part of this laudable initiative.” He noted.
Responding, Governor Fashola said that the state government appreciates Etisalat’s’ support, not only in the educational sector, but only in the area of creating employment opportunities for the people of the state. “Your efforts as partner in the socio-economic development of Lagos State are quite commendable. Let me openly acknowledge the support we have enjoyed from Etisalat in the provision of employment opportunity for our people.”
The Adopt–a-School Initiative (A.S.I) is a Public Private Partnership between Lagos State Government and business organizations in the state. A.S.I is designed to improve the deplorable state of public schools in Lagos by urging corporate bodies to get involved in upgrading public schools through strategic support in whatever area they choose. Etisalat has adopted three schools namely; Akande Dahunsi Junior and Senior Secondary School Osborne Road in Ikoyi; Rabiatu Thompson Primary School, Lagos Island and Edward Blyden Primary School, Surulere.
About Etisalat
Etisalat is the fastest growing telecommunications company in the world. It operates in over 18 countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East and has a subscriber base of over 80 million customers. The innovative GSM provider currently has unique products such as Easy Starter and Easy Cliq in the Nigerian market. Both offer a wide array of creative and exciting features designed to satisfy all communications needs of its subscribers. Etisalat has been rated as the best performing Telecommunication Company by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).
