ROLE OF MTN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OPERATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the role of MTN corporate social responsibility operations in the        development of education in Nigeria. The specifically determined whether secondary school teachers in Enugu metropolis are aware of the corporate social responsibility programmes of MTN in Nigeria educational sector, ascertained whether secondary school teachers in Enugu metropolis agree that there is a relationship between the corporate social responsibility programmes of MTN and developments in Nigerian   educational sector as well as determined if secondary school teachers in Enugu   metropolis agree that there is a relationship between corporate social responsibility   programmes of MTN and Nigerians’ patronage of MTN services. Survey research method was used for the execution of the study. The population of the study comprised secondary school teachers drawn from fifteen (15) public secondary schools in the three local government areas that make up Enugu metropolis. From these areas, a total of 400 respondents were selected, using multi-stage cluster   sampling technique. The test instrument was administered to the sample population  and 396 respondents correctly filled and returned theirs. With the help of survey research instrument, sufficient data were collected. In order to complement, validate and authenticate each research output, the data were analyzed with various statistical methods such as simple percentages, frequency distribution tables. The findings  among others, revealed that majority of educated and well versed residents of Enugu metropolis are conversant with the concept of corporate social responsibility as well  as the corporate social responsibility programmes of MTN Nigeria which include  Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Project Fame West Africa and MTN Soccer  Academy, Child Friendly School Initiative, Partnership against AIDS in the  Community Dialysis Centre and Fleet Management and Vehicle tracking. It was also revealed that MTN Nigeria’s various corporate social responsibility programmes targeted towards Nigeria educational development like the Universities Connect, Science and Technology Scholarship, Scholarship Scheme for Blind Students and Youth Skills Development Project and that there is an agreement  among respondents that MTN Foundation Universities Connect has contributed to the  development of Nigeria educational sector. That most Nigerians are in agreement that there is a relationship between the corporate social responsibility programmes of    MTN and Nigeria educational development. That the corporate social responsibility  programme of MTN Nigeria is partly responsible for Nigerian’s patronage of MTN services. Based on the findings, it was recommended that stakeholders in the  educational sector should strive to synergize some good aspects of the various corporate social responsibility programmes of multi-national corporations instead of leaving them to the whims and caprices of these multi-nationals. Aside the policy issues recommended, the researcher also suggested that similar studies be conducted in other states in Nigeria to revalidate or refute the findings of the study.