The Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ikpoki, has expressed gratitude to the Lagos State government for its leading role in the provision of critical infrastructure and support for the Information and Communications Technology industry in the state.
During a courtesy call on the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Ikpoki said the government’s impressive implementation of its development agenda had given Lagos residents renewed hope.
He reiterated MTN’s willingness to continue to partner with the state in its transformation drive.
“The development agenda of Lagos State ties in with MTN’s vision to lead in the delivery of a bold new digital world. Therefore, we will offer strong support in actualising the dream by providing relevant ICT services,” Ikpoki said.
Welcoming the MTN team, Fashola acknowledged the company’s giant strides in the ICT sector and urged the management to continue to deliver services in a more efficient manner so as to ultimately enhance the livelihood of all members of the community.
In his welcome address to the MTN delegation, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Fund, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, applauded MTN’s contributions to the state government in the area of security.
In his response, Ikpoki noted that a positive development could only be achieved in a state where there was law and order, hence MTN’s decision to assist the Lagos Security Trust Fund with the provision of 25 patrol vehicles.
According to Ikpoki, the initiative is in furtherance of MTN’s commitment to support the state government in its efforts to ensure the safety of lives and property in Lagos State.
During the formal handing over ceremony of the patrol vehicles, Fashola expressed his appreciation to MTN for its voluntary show of concern for security in the state through the donation of security patrol vehicles through the MTN Foundation.
He said the initiative would go a long way in helping the state government to fulfil its cardinal responsibility of securing the lives and property of Lagosians.
“Government cannot handle the security challenge alone, which is why we are particularly pleased by this intervention and we are calling on other corporate organisations to emulate the gesture of MTN and support the government’s effort in providing adequate security for residents of Lagos State as well as the entire country,” he noted.
Arthur-Worry noted that MTN, through its foundation, had donated approximately N600m to the Lagos Security Trust Fund since the inception of the fund till date.
The MTN Foundation has invested over N7bn in social projects in the areas of education, health and economic empowerment in 338 locations across the 36 states of Nigeria, including the FCT, Abuja.
In this second phase of the MTNF-SSP, the foundation has presented security vehicles to Ondo with plans to donate vehicles to other states around the country.
Phase one of the project witnessed the provision of fully kitted security vehicles to Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Delta, Oyo, Ogun, Jigawa, Imo, Katsina, Kano, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.