MTN Nigeria on Wednesday made Kate David its chief executive officer (CEO) for a day following her emergence as winner of the 2022 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee out of over 11,000 participants who registered for the competition.
Kate, a 14-year-old student from Intimacy with Christ Secondary School, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, assumed leadership of the telecommunication network at 9am.
In his symbolic handover, Karl Toriola applauded Kate’s brilliance while reiterating the purpose of the initiative.
“It has always been our brand commitment to support the government and educational institutions in producing students that are primed for global competitiveness. With that in mind, I am confident that our CEO for a day is on the path to a great future. We are happy to be a part of what promises to be an extraordinary journey,” Mr Toriola said.
In her capacity as the CEO, Kate met with MTN’s executives and members of the media where she announced key initiatives, including the unveiling of additional mPulse education data bundles.
“The opportunity to be MTN Nigeria’s CEO is a dream come true. It means a lot to me that I have made myself, my parents, and my school proud as a young CEO. I am certain that what I have learned here will prepare me for a brighter future,” Kate stated when asked what the CEO position meant to her.
In addition to her CEO status, she was awarded a N2.5m scholarship grant, a laptop, smartphone, and an MTN goody bag.
MTN also presented a N350,000 grant and state-of-the-art ICT devices to her English teacher and school respectively.
Rounding off the event, the chief human resource officer, MTN Nigeria Esther Akinnukawe appreciated the staff members for their warm hospitality.
“We can all admit that today was significant, especially because of the lasting impact this event will have in the life of Kate and how much of an inspiration it will serve to the young ones out there. At MTN, we believe that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life and will continue to provide opportunities that support students to learn and grow,” Akinnukawe said.
The MTN mPulse Spelling Bee is a self-development proposition designed by MTN Nigeria to promote digital literacy and academic excellence and thus empower the nation’s educational sector.
