National telecommunications operator, Globacom, is partnering leading ICT solutions provider, Huawei, to reward 150 first class students and 30 higher institutions of learning across the country with free phones and data.

In the empowerment scheme which was flagged off recently at Babcock University, Ogun State, the best five final year students in thirty tertiary schools in Nigeria will get free smartphones loaded with six months Glo data, while each of the 30 selected schools will get five Glo routers loaded with data. The data can be used for two years for academic research at zero cost to the beneficiary.

The five outstanding final year students of Babcock University who received the Glo/Huawei smartphones were Dogo Edafe Bawa of Business Education, Olusoji Ifejesu Precious of Accounting Department, Ojutiku Toluwanimi Oluwaseun of Economics, Ajulibe Goziem Benjamin of Medical Laboratory Science and Anifowose Airat Morolake of Computer Science department.

The university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Iheayichukwu Okoro, expressed appreciation to Globacom for making the gifts available to them, adding that the facility would lead to healthy rivalry as well as promote research and other academic activities in the school.

“We have always had faith in Globacom as we were part of the first set of Postpaid lines and CUG users. Our students will continue to cherish this recognition of excellence. Thank you Globacom. Thank you Huawei”, Prof Okoro said.

In a similar manner, the Registrar of the University, Dr. Jonathan Nwosu said, “Glo is Babcock, Babcock is Glo. This is reward for hard work. Hard work pays. We thank you for rewarding excellence in academics”.

Some of the students who spoke at the presentation ceremony said they were excited to receive the reward. 19-year-old Ojutiku Toluwanimi noted that he was grateful to Globacom and Huawei for the gesture. “I and my family members are indeed very happy and proud to be Glo subscribers,” he declared. On her part, Mrs Dogo Edafe Bawa, 36, commended the telecom company for the free smartphone and data. She called on other service providers to emulate Globacom “rather than promoting frivolities”.

Presenting the items on behalf of Globacom, its Regional Manager, Retail Sales, Lagos/Ogun, Mr. Olufolahan Faseyitan, advised staff and students of the University to avail themselves of the company’s on-going week-long data clinic to upgrade to Glo 4G to “experience the new speed of life and enjoy memorable communication experience”.

He noted that the availability of Glo 4G in all tertiary institutions in the country underscored the fact Globacom has the widest and most reliable 4G LTE coverage in Nigeria.

In her own remarks, the Deputy Human Resources Director, Huawei, Mrs Dorothy Johnson, said Huawei was delighted to partner Globacom on the project. She noted that, being an indigenous company, the operator would not take its profit outside the country, adding that they also shared the no-limit philosophy of Glo and would always support efforts to improve subscribers’ experience on the network.

Mrs Johnson stated that Huawei was committed to providing innovations and launching 5G which she said was already operational in China.