Etisalat rewards 80 outstanding students

Telecomm company, Etisalat, recently awarded scholarship grants of N100,000 each to 80 outstanding undergraduates from the north under its Annual Merit Awards Scheme. The latest beneficiaries have brought, to over 700, the number of recipients, who have benefited from this scheme in the four years of its existence.

The event, which held at the Ladi Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, was part of the telecom’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) initiatives, designed for outstanding students of Electrical Electronics Engineering, Computer Science and Business Management course in second and third years of study.

The awardees emerged from the University of Abuja, Bayero University, Kano, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Benue State University, Makurdi, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Modibbo Adamu University, Yola, and Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Kebbi.

Speaking at the event, chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans, described education as a powerful tool for change needed to facilitate the economic advancement of any nation. According to him, dynamic economies that have emerged in the last 50 years rode on the back of heavy investment in education.

Mr. Evans said that the Merit Awards scheme was developed to offer the best students in partner institutions a grant towards the successful completion of their courses of study by taking care of their financial burden and enabling them to concentrate on their studies and act eye excellence.

“The essence of the Merit Award Scheme is that we award scholarship grant of N100,000 each to 10 best second year and third year students in three important courses namely; Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science and Management from each university,” he said.

In addition, the partner universities each also receive a direct grant towards the upgrade of their educational facilities and procurement of educational materials.

He commended the students for their laudable performances that have brought them this far and expressed the belief that these meritorious scholarship grants would propel them to accomplish even better scholarship success. He encouraged them to work hard and to be diligent in their studies.

Speaking on his award, Roland Tianogo, a student of Benue State University, Makurdi and a recipient of the award in 2011 expressed joy at receiving the award again this year, describing it as one of the greatest things that has happened to him. He thanked Etisalat for the gesture, saying this has indeed shown that it is a brand that is not only youth-oriented, but also one that is concerned about the future of the country. He plans to use the grant to further his research work.