MTN Chairman Charts Path For Physcially Challenged

The Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Dr Paschal Dozie, has advised the physically-challenged to have “can-do spirit” and determination to overcome the obstacles they faced in life.

Dozie gave the advise in Owerri last  Friday, while distributing mobility aids and appliances to people with disabilities, under the MTN Disability Support Project.

The items distributed were wheelchairs, braille and hearing aids.

“You are not disabled, you are not minority group; indeed, you are special citizens and MTN is proud to associate with you,“ he said.

He said that the company believed that talented and committed people living with disabilities could through the gesture, “increase their independence, improve their mobility and enhance their productivity.“

The Chairman added that under the support project, started in 2009, the company had so far distributed no fewer than 15,000 mobility aids and appliances to the physically-challenged in 32 states of the federation.

Dozie noted that the company had also provided micro-finance credits to over 9,500 persons through its Rural Telephone Projects (RTP) in Imo.

He said that the MTN Foundation had over 25 projects in 292 sites across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Wife of the Imo Governor, Mrs Nkechi Okorocha, while commending MTN for the gesture, urged the physically-challenged not to regard themselves as second-class citizens.

Okorocha assured them that the State Government had many plans to better their lots, noting that a talent hunt would be held to fish out those with special gifts for more encouragements.

“You are special and not disabled and I want to assure you that you have something to offer,“ she added.

No fewer than 450 physically-challenged in the state benefited from the gesture.

Mr Andrew Nwamkpa, a blind man, commended the company for giving them the materials, saying: “MTN has put smiles on our faces and this shows that the company understands what life is all about.