Airtel Nigeria has promised more support to the quest for quality primary education in the country, especially in public schools.
The managing director/chief executive officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya made the commitment recently while speaking at the inauguration of two blocks of classrooms and staff offices reconstructed by the company at the Presbyterian Primary School 2, Ediba in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.
According to the statement made available to Nigerian Pilot, Ogunsanya, who was represented by the regional director, south, Mr. Godfrey Efeurhobo, said the company identifies education as a catalyst for the realisation of the individual and collective dreams of individuals, as well as the development of any nation.
He said that Airtel would continue to be committed to creating the enabling environment to actualise the purpose of the struggle through strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
“A great environment is also critical to the development of a sound mind and it is in recognition of the importance of education and as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR philosophy that we have committed to the adoption of public primary schools across Nigeria,” he said.
He maintained that Airtel would remain part of the schools it had adopted and would continue to provide the necessary support and care at all time.
While commending the Cross River State government for its free education programme for pupils in primary schools, he urged local authorities in the country to help safeguard the goodwill gestures of corporate citizens by ensuring projects such as the Ariel’s Adopt-a-School programme are protected from hoodlums and vandals.
Responding, the governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke applauded Airtel Nigeria for its vision and commitment to uplifting the standard of primary education in the country as well as its strategic partnership with the state.
Sen. Imoke, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Offiong E. Offiong, stated that the Adopt-a-School programme is one laudable venture designed to impact positively on the academic lives of our children.
He emphasised that the collaborative effort by Airtel Nigeria is a much cherished one which he said would go a long way to assist the state government to realise its vision for the education sector.