Nigeria’s most innovative telecommunications company, Etisalat Nigeria, celebrated academic excellence in the country recently, by awarding scholarships to 60 exceptional students from 6 Universities in Nigeria’s South-South/South-East region, through its education empowerment scheme, the Etisalat Merit Awards.
The merit award scholarships are presented to outstanding undergraduates in their second and third year of study, with the highest CGPA in courses like Electrical Electronics Engineering, Computer Science and Management Sciences.
The 2014 scholarships went to undergraduates from Akwa Ibom State University; Niger Delta University; Enugu State University of Science & Technology; Ebonyi State University; Cross River State University of Science & Technology and Rivers State University of Science & Technology.
According to the Director, Brands & Communication at Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye, the Etisalat Merit Awards is in its sixth year of implementation, taking care of the financial burden of extraordinary students in partner institutions and enabling them to sustain their academic excellence.
“The Merit Award is an integral part of our CSR activities in the area of Education. We have partnered with about 25 tertiary institutions in the country and over 1000 scholarships have been awarded under the scheme over the last five years, in addition to the grants we have provided to the schools for the refurbishment of educational facilities” he disclosed.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of education, Rivers State, Minabelem Michael West commended Etisalat for investing in Nigeria’s future.
“Education is the only way to illuminate the darkness that threatens to cloud the world”, West said.
“It is heartwarming that Etisalat is investing in education in the country and promoting academic excellence. This is what all socially responsible organisations ought to be doing, so Etisalat deserves our commendation.” He added.
In addition to the presentation of scholarships to the 60 undergraduates, the award ceremony at Port-Harcourt featured a seminar by motivational speaker and life coach, Niyi Adesanya; an innovative ideas’ competition among students from the universities represented and a musical performance by the first-runner up of the Etisalat-sponsored Nigerian Idol Season 4, Eye-D
(L-R): Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Rivers State, Mr. Minabelem Michael West; ICT Director, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Prof Solomon Braide and Head, Regional Sales, South – South, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Enekwachi Aja, during the presentation of cheque to River State University of Science and Technology, at the Etisalat Merit Awards 2014, held at Port Harcourt, on 12th November, 2014
(L-R): Head, Regional Sales, South – South, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Enekwachi Aja; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of education, River State, Mr. Minabelem Michael West and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Cross River State University of Technology, Prof Gabriel U. Ikpi, at the Etisalat Merit Awards 2014, held at Port Harcourt, on 12th November, 2014
(L-R): Head, Regional Sales, South – South, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Enekwachi Aja; Winner of innovation presentation, Eku Maxwell Ndifon, a 300 level Computer Science student of Cross River State University of Technology; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of education, River State, Mr. Minabelem Michael West and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Cross River State University of Technology, Prof Gabriel U. Ikpi, at the Etisalat Merit Awards 2014, held at Port Harcourt, on 12th November, 2014
(L-R): Permanent Secretary, Ministry of education, River State, Mr. Minabelem Michael West; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Cross River State University of Technology, Prof Gabriel U. Ikpi, and Head, Regional Sales, South – South, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Enekwachi Aja, during the presentation of cheque to Cross River State University, at the Etisalat Merit Awards 2014, held at Port Harcourt, on 12th November, 2014.
(L-R): Permanent Secretary, Ministry of education, River State, Mr. Minabelem Michael West; Dean, students Affairs, Niger Delta University, Dr. (Mrs.) Comfort Zuofa; Acting Director, Academic Planning, Niger Delta University, Dr. Fiekumo Buseri and Head, Regional Sales, South – South, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Enekwachi Aja, during the presentation of cheque to Niger Delta University, at the Etisalat Merit Awards 2014, held at Port Harcourt, on 12th November, 2014.