MTN Nigeria recently appointed the winner of the 2024 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee competition, Ikenna Ikechukwu, as its one-day Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Ikechukwu, a 15-year-old student of Glorious Covenant School in Rivers State, emerged the winner of the competition, among over 34,000 participants.
The Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, said the appointment was part of MTN’s efforts to promote education and digital literacy among young Nigerians.
Ikenna-Emeka said that MTN was committed to educational excellence in Nigeria and beyond.
She said that the mPulse initiative was one of MTN’s flagship programmes aimed at promoting digital literacy and education among young Nigerians.
According to her, it is actually a gateway for opportunities; an initiative or one of the initiatives that MTN has put together, targeting teens within the ages of nine and 15.
“It focuses on helping them to gain the requisite skills required to excel in today’s world, and you will all agree with me that today’s world is quite, quite complex.
“The initiative also focuses on making sure that the students are able to build their self confidence, improve in the art of public speaking, build on their digital literacy skills, and of course, their vocabularies as well.
“This initiative started in 2018, and has since focused on providing this level of skills to a large array of students.
“Today, we have with us Ikenna Ikechukwu and we are delighted that he is here. We hope that this occasion will inspire other young Nigerians like him to dream big, think big, believe that they can actually achieve on their dreams, and do this while Making A Difference (MAD) with MTN data,’’ she said.
In his remarks, Ikechukwu thanked MTN for the opportunity, saying it was a dream come true to be appointed the one-day CEO of MTN Nigeria.
“I am grateful to MTN for this opportunity, It is a dream come true.
“I urge all young Nigerians to embrace digital literacy and education, as it is the key to unlocking their potential,” Ikechukwu said.
He stressed the importance of learning, adapting and embracing knowledge, particularly through digital platforms like the mPulse website.
He encouraged young Nigerians to leverage MTN data and digital resources for learning, innovation and growth.
Ikechukwu attributed his success to hard work, determination, perseverance, faith and sacrifice.
He detailed his preparation for the competition, saying it included studying thousands of words and overcoming challenges during the grand finale.
The one-day CEO also shared his experience meeting with new MTN employees and receiving a welcome pack.
He said that his itinerary included meeting with the executive team, touring the facilities and visiting a service experience centre.
The Chief Customer Relations and Experience Officer, MTN Nigeria, Ugonwa Nwoye, said Ikechukwu’s appointment was a testament to the company’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians.
“We believe that by providing them with the right tools and resources, they can achieve their dreams and make a positive impact in their communities,” Nwoye said.
The Chief Digital Officer, MTN Nigeria, Aisha Mumuni, said Ikenna’s story was an inspiration to everyone, and urged young Nigerians to emulate him.
Mumuni said that Ikechukwu story was inspiring because he exemplified what could be achieved with hard work, determination and a passion for learning.
She urged all young Nigerians to emulate him and strive for excellence in all they do.
The mPulse initiative is MTN’s flagship programme aimed at promoting digital literacy and education among young Nigerians.
The programme provides a platform for young Nigerians to access digital resources, including online educational content, digital skills training and entrepreneurship development programmes.
