MTN Foundation expands Phase six of community initiative
The MTN Nigeria Foundation has unveiled the sixth phase of its “What Can We Do Together” initiative, reaffirming its commitment to community-driven development while intensifying efforts to create nationwide awareness
- By Akintunde Olamide
The MTN Nigeria Foundation has unveiled the sixth phase of its “What Can We Do Together” initiative, reaffirming its commitment to community-driven development while intensifying efforts to create nationwide awareness on how Nigerians can access support for building and equipping schools and healthcare facilities.
Speaking at the presentation, the Executive Director of MTN Nigeria Foundation, Mrs. Sanya Odunayo, emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in nation-building, noting that sustainable impact can only be achieved when individuals and communities work together.
She described the initiative as a platform that allows Nigerians to actively participate in shaping their own development stories, stressing that beneficiaries of the programme remain the “true heroes” for opening up their communities to transformation.
According to Sanya, the programme has evolved through five phases, delivering interventions in healthcare, education, and infrastructure nationwide. She explained that the newly launched phase six will see the revitalisation of 40 primary healthcare centres and the upgrade of 15 science laboratories across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
The Foundation said the intervention goes beyond infrastructure, incorporating solar power installations, water access, modern equipment, and capacity building for teachers and healthcare workers.
In addition to these interventions, the Foundation is ramping up general awareness campaigns targeted at Nigerians, informing them about how to nominate communities and where to seek support for the construction, renovation, and equipping of public schools and primary healthcare centres. Officials noted that through dedicated nomination portals and outreach efforts, communities can directly participate in attracting development projects to their areas.
Highlighting past achievements, Sanya noted that previous phases of the initiative led to the rehabilitation of dozens of healthcare centres, establishment of ICT laboratories, provision of school furniture and learning materials, and installation of transformers to improve electricity supply in underserved communities.
She also underscored the impact of the foundation’s health interventions, particularly in maternal and child care, revealing that hundreds of thousands of patients have accessed care through supported facilities, with significant improvements in antenatal services, immunisation coverage, and safe deliveries.
A key feature of the initiative is its participatory approach, where Nigerians are encouraged to nominate communities in need of intervention. The selection process, according to the Foundation, is guided by strict criteria to ensure transparency, sustainability, and maximum impact.
The event also featured remarks from representatives of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, who commended the foundation’s efforts in strengthening healthcare systems and addressing critical gaps that contribute to public health vulnerabilities.
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The agency highlighted the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector, noting that health security remains both a national and economic priority, especially in the face of emerging and recurring disease outbreaks.
Stakeholders at the event further stressed the need to reposition primary healthcare centres as the foundation of Nigeria’s health system, calling for sustained investment, policy alignment, and shared responsibility to ensure long-term impact.
The MTN Foundation urged Nigerians to take ownership of the initiative by participating in the nomination process, spreading awareness, and leveraging available platforms to facilitate the development of schools and healthcare centres in their communities.
Some beneficiary schools were also present at the event, including Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School and Queen’s College, Lagos, who have previously benefited from the Foundation’s interventions. In addition, healthcare experts were invited to share professional insights on best practices for operating and sustaining primary healthcare centres, further enriching discussions around improving service delivery.
The “What Can We Do Together” initiative continues to stand as one of the country’s largest private-sector-led social investment programmes, driven largely by the support of MTN subscribers and aimed at building a more inclusive and resilient Nigeria.
