21 Days of Y’ello Care | MTN Hosts Exhibition for 50 SMEs

MTN Nigeria held a bazaar and trade fair for small and medium enterprises on Wednesday 21 June 2023 at its corporate head office in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The trade fair is part of the ongoing annual MTN employee volunteerism initiative – 21 Days of Y’ello Care.

Attended by the First Lady of Lagos State, the exhibition had more than 50 local entrepreneurs who showcased their products to enthusiastic MTN employees and guests.

Expressing her delight, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the First Lady of Lagos State, said

“It is my pleasure to be here today for an initiative that I consider a solid example of sustained positive impact within our communities – MTN’s 21 days of Y’ello Care driven by MTN staff. I find it particularly gratifying that this year’s programme is shining a spotlight on SMEs. I applaud the Lagos State officials, MTN partners, SMEs, MTN Board, Management and staff, and all other stakeholders present here today for driving and facilitating this noble cause.”

“This is the 16th year of our signature volunteer initiative designed to impact lives and communities around us. This year, we are ‘Empowering Entrepreneurs to Unlock Growth and Job Creation for Communities’ with a focus on leveraging skills, digital and financial tools to drive growth among entrepreneurs. In special focus are our women, youth, and people living with disabilities. We assure all our stakeholders that we remain unrelenting in our efforts to empower entrepreneurs and uplift communities in Lagos and across the country,” said Esther Akinnukawe, Chief Human Resources Officer, MTN Nigeria.

The event also featured a Y’ello Den Pitch-A-Thon in partnership with the Bank of Industry, for business owners to pitch their business expansion plans to qualify for financial and tech support from MTN Nigeria.

Y'ello Care Photo — L-r: Sheila Ojei, Director, Strategy, Funding and Stakeholder Management, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF); Esther Akinnukawe, Chief Human Resources Officer, MTN Nigeria; Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, First Lady, Lagos State and Uto Ukpanah, Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria, at the 2023 MTN Y’ello Care Exhibition and Trade Fair for SMEs at MTN Plaza, Falomo, Lagos on June 21, 2023.

MTN ADS — L-r: Sheila Ojei, Director, Strategy, Funding and Stakeholder Management, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF); Esther Akinnukawe, Chief Human Resources Officer, MTN Nigeria; Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, First Lady, Lagos State and Uto Ukpanah, Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria, at the 2023 MTN Y’ello Care Exhibition and Trade Fair for SMEs at MTN Plaza, Falomo, Lagos on June 21, 2023.

Launched in 2007, Y’ello Care seeks to inspire MTN employees, encouraging them to actively contribute their resources (time, financial, and skill set) to community development.

Since June 1, 2023, MTN employees have trained SMEs owners, particularly persons with disabilities (PWDs), across Nigeria on financial literacy and digital skills whilst providing them with financial support.