For decades, Nigeria’s education system has nurtured millions of students with immense academic potential, yet many face significant barriers such as inadequate financial support and crumbling infrastructure.
These challenges hinder their ability to compete on a global scale. If left unaddressed, this systemic neglect threatens to undermine the nation’s human capital development and jeopardise its economic future, making urgent reforms not just necessary but critical for progress.
“Educationists are of the view that any country committed to preparing its future generation to be globally competitive will ensure its pupils are provided with adequate classroom resources and world-class education infrastructure to aid learning from a very early age.”
Nigeria, home to Africa’s largest Black population, has long grappled with numerous challenges in its education sector. These include overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of qualified educators, and periodic strikes fueled by inadequate wages and poor working conditions. Additionally, the country faces significant issues such as youth restiveness, widespread idleness, illiteracy, and a growing number of out-of-school children. These challenges have dire consequences for learning outcomes and the nation’s overall development.
Nigeria’s education system has consistently ranked low compared to global benchmarks, placing 124th in the latest education index. This ranking reflects a declining standard of education at all levels, highlighting the urgent need for robust interventions.
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At the heart of any high-performing education system is a modern teaching and learning infrastructure. It is worrying that deficient school curricula and lack of proper investment in infrastructure for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) in education have contributed to the failure of educational institutions to provide students with the appropriate outlets to explore career options that would aid them to function effectively in the 21st century.
Educationists are of the view that any country committed to preparing its future generation to be globally competitive will ensure its pupils are provided with adequate classroom resources and world-class education infrastructure to aid learning from a very early age.
While many schools in Nigeria claim to have effective physical infrastructure for teaching basic curriculum subjects, there is a pressing need to prioritise 21st-century teaching methodologies. Efforts should focus on fostering soft skills and digital literacy among students. These initiatives could revitalise the education sector and nurture talents that contribute to the country’s development.
Subject matter experts emphasise the urgent need to provide pupils at primary and secondary levels with opportunities to focus on achieving their educational goals. They also stress the importance of making significant investments in school infrastructure. These measures, they argue, will not only enhance learning outcomes but also play a crucial role in developing leadership qualities among students.
They pointed out that by undergoing the process of education in a modern learning environment and curriculum in school, pupils stand to benefit from the innumerable opportunities available in the global education space.
Indeed, few organisations in Nigeria truly understand the pivotal role a well-funded education sector plays in securing the nation’s relevance on the global stage and driving future growth as effectively as MTN Foundation.
For the MTN Foundation, the value and importance of education and technology in the development of Nigeria’s economy remain paramount. What today is known as the MTN Foundation was established in July 2004; the Foundation is funded by up to one percent profit after tax (PAT) from MTN Nigeria and has shown a greater passion to institute deeper engagements with the youth across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The Foundation understands this connection, and its sustainability strategy is underscored by its continued investments in the youth. The MTN Foundation’s mission is evident in its commitment to investing in education, with its diverse initiatives spanning teacher training, student empowerment, and infrastructure development.
In keeping with its mission to foster an enabling environment for learning and support access to quality education, the MTN Foundation has made significant strides through various initiatives.
In January 2025, the Foundation launched the Learning Support Materials Initiative (LSMI), aimed at empowering public secondary school students by providing essential academic tools. This initiative complements its broader efforts to improve educational access and outcomes nationwide.
Speaking on this initiative and the Foundation’s dedication to national development through education, Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, said the Foundation believes that education is the cornerstone of growth and development, and all students deserve access to the resources necessary to unlock their full potential.
According to her, this initiative emphasises the foundations’ commitment to fostering an enabling environment for learning and supporting access to quality education.
“The Learning Support Materials Initiative highlights the foundations’ unwavering dedication towards empowering young minds across Nigeria. Through strategic educational support programs, the foundation contributes to bridging resource gaps faced by several public institutions and shaping brighter futures nationwide,” she said.
Another noteworthy initiative is the MTN Science and Technology Scholarship, which is open to eligible 300-level students studying science and technology-related courses in Nigerian public tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Successful students receive annual scholarships until graduation, provided they maintain the required grades.
The MTN Scholarship for Blind Students further extends support to qualified 200-level blind students studying any course in Nigerian public tertiary institutions. These students are awarded scholarships annually until graduation, contingent on maintaining the necessary academic performance. Through these targeted programs, the MTN Foundation continues to champion inclusive education and human capital development in Nigeria.
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Complementing these efforts towards enabling access to quality education is the Science and Technology Lab Project (STLP), which has refurbished 102 science laboratories in public secondary schools across Nigeria. These state-of-the-art facilities enhance science education by providing students with practical learning environments that foster innovation and critical thinking.
Commenting on the Foundation’s numerous initiatives, Odunayo Sanya emphasised the Foundation’s 20-year legacy of impactful initiatives, with investments totalling over N30 billion across health, education, capacity building, community development, and women empowerment initiatives.
The Foundation’s educational initiatives have, in the last two decades, seen it address the infrastructure gap in educational institutions. In 2024, the MTN Foundation unveiled 29 fully renovated science and ICT laboratories in public secondary schools located in the Northeast and Southeast areas of Nigeria, including Kano, Gombe, Enugu, and Anambra. This is part of MTNF’s Science and Technology Laboratory Project (STLP). The nationwide initiative has enhanced science education by equipping public school laboratories with state-of-the-art facilities and vital resources.
The STLP initiative reflects the Foundation’s commitment to youth empowerment and educational advancement in Nigeria, providing students with practical learning experiences in core science subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, and agriculture. The third phase of this project alone has seen the complete transformation of laboratories in six schools, with structural renovations, alternative power installations, digital learning tools, and specialised training for teachers and lab attendants.
To further strengthen the value chain of human capital development, the foundation, in partnership with SAIL Teachers Fellowship, equipped over 4000 teachers with innovative teaching techniques to transform Nigerian classrooms and represents an effort to transition educators from traditional methods to inquiry-based and digital learning strategies.
Sanya further opines that the foundation is willing to support young Nigerians with the resources and environments they need to excel in science and technology as it deepens access to quality education for every Nigerian student.
The Foundation, through its numerous efforts, has positioned itself as a pivotal player in advancing Nigeria’s socio-economic development and shaping a brighter future for its youth.
These initiatives by the MTN Foundation over the past two decades underscore the growing recognition of infrastructural development and regular teacher training as fundamental pillars of human and national development. By addressing these critical areas, the Foundation has taken significant steps to improve the quality of education in Nigeria.
Moreover, these efforts align closely with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, they support SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing educational quality through improved teacher training and better infrastructure. By extension, they also contribute to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by equipping students with relevant skills that enhance their employability and prepare them for the demands of a competitive global workforce.
In addition, several of the foundation’s emphases on STEAM education foster innovation, an essential component of Nigeria’s long-term economic diversification strategy.
Beyond the MTN Foundation, staff within the company have invested in neighbouring communities over the past 18 years. Earlier in the year, MTN staff commissioned a newly renovated school block at Iwerekun Community High School, Lakowe, as part of its annual Y’ello Care initiative—an employee-driven program dedicated to empowering Nigerian communities through education, digital inclusion, and economic support. This project underscores not only MTN Foundation’s dedication but also the company’s broader commitment to improving the quality of education nationwide by leveraging its resources and technology to empower the next generation of leaders.
In June, staff of the company continued with the 2025 edition of the initiative, transforming 8,932 lives, using 3,947 volunteer hours. Leaning on the theme “Connecting at the Roots—Connecting Communities through Digital Tools,” the company focused heavily on education and digital inclusion. The program saw the deployment of digital learning devices, including laptops and tablets, to schools and community youth centres in underserved regions. Schools across the country were given digital access tools and participated in digital literacy workshops.
Over 250 young people were engaged in sessions covering digital marketing, employability skills, and personal branding, designed to prepare them for the digital economy.
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Further amplifying its impact, MTN will set up “Y’ello Pods,” which are community hubs combining e-learning, entrepreneurship guidance, and financial services. These pods, supported by free community Wi-Fi access points, are helping bridge the digital divide for students and young entrepreneurs alike.
These initiatives, among others, are proof of the Foundation and the company’s commitment to the sustainable development of human capital in education for Nigeria.
As a foundation that is committed to the development of Nigerian youth, MTN Foundation recognises education as the bedrock of sustainable development, which is why education is one of its core social investment areas.
It is the belief of stakeholders in the education sector that interventions like those undertaken by the MTN Foundation can inspire millions of youths to pursue their dreams without fear of financial constraints or physical impairments. By providing such support, these youths are empowered to discover and unleash their hidden potential, contributing their skills not only to Nigeria’s growth but also to global development.
As Nigeria continues to navigate the complexities of education reform, initiatives like those undertaken by the MTN Foundation showcase that meaningful change is not only possible but achievable. Through sustained investment, strategic collaboration, and innovative approaches, the vision of a world-class education system for Nigeria moves closer to reality.
