By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Nearly 2,000 female students of Queen Amina College, Kakuri, Kaduna, have benefited from an educational support initiative by the MTN Nigeria Foundation, which distributed school bags, exercise books and other learning materials to ease the burden of schooling.
The intervention, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), forms part of the foundation’s Learning Support Materials Initiative, designed to improve access to essential educational resources in public schools across Nigeria.
The programme has reportedly reached more than 1,000 schools across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, Zubair Bashir, General Manager representing the MTN Nigeria Foundation, said the initiative was designed to remove basic obstacles that prevent students from participating effectively in classroom activities.
“Every child deserves not only access to education but also access to the tools and resources needed to learn effectively and succeed,” Bashir said.
He disclosed that 2,636 students in seven states benefited from the intervention in 2025, while teachers also received instructional materials to enhance teaching and classroom delivery.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Bashir said the learning kits represented more than school supplies, describing them as a demonstration of the foundation’s confidence in the students’ abilities and future prospects.
“To our dear students, these materials are much more than exercise books and school bags. They represent opportunity, encouragement and our belief in your potential,” he said.
He encouraged the students to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies, noting that they could become professionals and leaders capable of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.
“Among you today are future doctors, engineers, teachers, scientists, entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders who will shape the future of Nigeria,” he added.
Bashir commended the teachers, parents, Kaduna State Ministry of Education and UNICEF for supporting the initiative, stressing that partnerships between government and the private sector were essential to delivering sustainable educational interventions.
He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to supporting development programmes in education, healthcare and economic empowerment.
School Authorities Welcome Intervention
The Principal of Queen Amina College, Junior Session, Hajiya Zainab Muhammad, described the donation as timely, particularly as students resumed academic activities for a new school session.
She said the support would help students access essential learning materials and settle more comfortably into their academic routines.
Queen Amina College is a federal unity school that accommodates more than 3,000 girls in its boarding facilities, with students drawn from Northern Nigeria and other parts of the country.
“What MTN did, they just didn’t do it for Queen Amina alone. They have done it for the Northern states and beyond. It is a very welcome gesture that will help the students blend and be more comfortable in their academic activities,” Muhammad said.
Expressing appreciation for the intervention, she noted that many students needed the materials to support their education.
“I feel very happy indeed. It is a timely intervention. A lot of these students need these materials. I really appreciate what MTN did for these students,” she added.
According to the principal, nearly 2,000 students had benefited from the distribution at the school.
Muhammad also urged other corporate organisations to invest in educational support programmes, particularly those targeting girls, who often require additional resources to thrive academically.
“What MTN did is exceptional. I am calling on other corporate organizations to do the same. There are so many things they can bring to the doorstep of students, most especially girl students, that will be of benefit to them,” she said.
Beneficiaries, Stakeholders Applaud MTN
Some of the beneficiaries described the intervention as a welcome relief and called on other private sector organisations to emulate the foundation’s example.
Education stakeholders in Kaduna also emphasised the importance of corporate participation in reducing the financial pressure on parents and improving learning outcomes, particularly for girls in boarding schools who may struggle to obtain basic educational supplies.
The Learning Support Materials Initiative is one of the MTN Nigeria Foundation’s programmes aimed at supporting underserved schools by improving access to learning resources and strengthening student participation and performance.
Following the distribution in Kaduna, the foundation said it would continue extending the initiative to more schools in 2026 as part of its contribution to improving Nigeria’s education sector.
