The Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon (Mrs) Toyin Balogun and her team comprising a Director and aides from the Ministry had a strategic engagement with the South West management structure of the telecoms giant MTN on November 1st, 2023.
The engagement was predicated on the recognition of the telecoms giant which has a track record of impactful Corporate Social Responsibility interventions as a worthy partner in progress on the mission of her ministry to lift a
targeted 4million citizens(an average of a million per year throughout the life span of this government) of Oyo State from poverty,from the ranks of the vulnerable and the depths of destitution to prosperity in line with the Omituntun 2.0 Agenda of the Governor Seyi Makinde led government.
The Commissioner was warmly received by the South West leadership of the Telco giant,led by Mrs. Stella Nwosisi, the GM of Regional Operations Western Nigeria.
The purpose of the engagement was to accord MTN recognition for past CSR interventions in the South West ,and to underscore the imperative for a more synergistic approach,an effective collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Inclusion which is statutorily saddled with the responsibility for effecting the Social Welfare interventions of the State government.This is with a view to ensure that truly,prosperity is brought to all citizens of Oyo State with no member of the vulnerable demographic( women,children,the uniquely abled) left behind .
During the meeting, Hon(Mrs) Toyin Balogun presented compelling data and insights regarding the challenges confronting vulnerable populations, encompassing women, children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.
She highlighted the efforts of the GSM led government in reducing the number of Out Of School Children between 2019 and 2023 from close to 500,000 to less than 300,000.Encouraging figures but a lot still has to be done on this menace which has implications for security and stability of the operating environment through collaborations of the private sector with government
She also highlighted the alarming data which indicates Nigeria as having the 2nd highest Maternal Mortality Rates and Neonatal Mortality Rates in the entire world with Oyo State accounting for a significant portion of these disturbing data
Also of major concern to the Governor Seyi Makinde led government is the number of our women and other vulnerable groups living in squalor,below poverty line,some of who die unsung because they have no means of providing for their basic needs.
These troubling data/facts underscored the immediate need for PPP partnership to reverse these ugly trends in the best interest of the vulnerable demographic ,govt,the private sector and by extension, society at large.
Conversations during the meeting encompassed various potential CSR initiatives, including scholarships, healthcare programs, skill and capacity development initiatives for women, support for the elderly and orphaned children, as well as
support for the Oyo State Social Welfare Trust Fund proposed by the Ministry of Women Affairs to facilitate broader Social Welfare projects and interventions across the 33 local governments of the state.
The MTN management team expressed their appreciation for the recognition of the company’s past efforts,stating that this was the first recognition from a state government since their advent in the state
The GM South West expressed MTN’s dedication to Corporate Social Responsibility and a keen interest in supporting these vulnerable populations indicated by the Commissioner
She appreciated the presentation of the Honorable Commissioner Balogun’s Work Plan/Program Calendar for 2024 and gave a commitment to go through,identify more areas of interest which they will collaborate with the State on and promised to revert to the Commissioner in the shortest possible time in order to commence the planning of detailed support initiatives.
She also pledged the support of MTN for the proposed Oyo State Social Welfare Trust Fund initiative.
The visit concluded with an emphasis on the necessity of collaborative efforts to enhance the lives of the vulnerable in Oyo state
Participants at the meeting include:
Honorable Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon(Mrs)Toyin Balogun, Director of Child Welfare Mr Ojerinde and two aides of the Honorable Commissioner; MTN Office Representatives led by the GM of Regional Operations West, Mrs. Stella Nwosisi, Other MTN officials in the team: Mr. Kayode Olufuwa (Regional Technical Manager), Miss Ifeanyichukwu Udon (Snr. Mgr. Sales & Trade Dev.), Temitope Akarah, Funmilayo Akinleye, and Kale Brown.
This meeting underscores the shared commitment of both government and corporate entities to enhance the welfare of the vulnerable in Oyo State, marking a significant step toward a brighter future for these vulnerable, marginalized groups.
A follow-up meeting is to be scheduled to establish a comprehensive action plan