MTN UNICEF Charity Shield Polo: MTN Presents N5m Donation to UNICEF

The prestigious MTN UNICEF Charity Shield international polo tournament came to a flourishing climax over the weekend,as Nigeria’s leading telecommunications and ICT Company, MTN, made a N5 million donation to UNICEF.

The donation was presented at the Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Club in Kaduna on Sunday, by MTN’s Event & Sponsorship Manager, MrOkundolaBamgboye as the Company’s support to UNICEF, with respect to its campaign against HIV/AIDS pandemic among Nigerian children

From (R-L) MTN Regional Trade Marketing Manager, North Central, Fatima Abba-Paris, Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Arch. BalaBantex, MTN Event & Sponsorship Manager, DolaBamgboye and UNICEF Country Representative, Jean Gough, displaying a cheque of N5million during the MTN UNICEF Charity Shield Polo tournament, being MTN’s donationwith respect to UNICEF’s  campaign against HIV/AIDS pandemic among Nigerian children.

Bamgboye  who  led other top officials of MTN  to the grand finale, expressed delight that the MTN  UNICEF Charity Shield  partnership  is archiving its main objective of reaching out to the less privileged children in the society.He said that MTN will continue to support UNICEF’s initiatives, most especially those geared towards making life better for orphans and vulnerable children.

"The 2015 edition is more than an affirmation of our commitment to the socio-economic wellbeing of the citizenry and acknowledgement of the impact the initiative has had on the lives of the orphaned and vulnerable children in Kaduna State and its environ; it is also an opportunity to provide special care for the teeming subscribers of the largest communication network in the country."

UNICEF Country Representative, Jean Gough who received the donation, thanked MTN for the assistance, pointing out that through the donation, UNICEF would be able to provide care and support service to orphans and vulnerable children in focus areas of Kaduna State.

Proceeds and other donations from corporate organizations and well-meaning individuals during the MTN powered international polo fiesta, will be channeled into supporting UNICEF’s campaign against HIV/AIDS among Nigerian children.

The cheque presentation which was witnessed by the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, BalaBantex was the major highlight of the closing ceremony coming on the heels of the final game of the event in which Access Bank Fifth Chukker defeated Titan Lintex 8-6 in a tense final game, to win their fourth Charity Shield title.

From right, UNICEF Country Representative, Jean Gough and MTN Event & Sponsorship Manager, DolaBamgboyepresent the UNICEF Cup runners-up prize to Abba Dantata during the Prize Presentation ceremony in Kaduna

Titan Lintex who was seeking their Charity Shield glory, had earlier defeated KeffiPonys   11-9 in an exciting semi-final game, a result that earned them  the runners-up title, as their quest for honour was cut short by the defending champions, Access Bank Fifth Chukker  in the final.

Earlier on, the MTN polo team had outpaced their arch rivals Suplan 7-3, to win the coveted UNICEF Cup.  Cheered on by its teeming fans, the MTN team parading  Baba Dawule, Johan Duploy, Fernando  and Ali Birjawi    that won all their games enroute to final, took the lead  with  two quick goals in the opening chukka and held tight to the lead, till  the final bell.

The Kaduna based team that defeated nine other ambitious oppositions in the week-long polo extravaganza, earned a second honour, as their captain, Baba Dawule drove home a brand new car, as the Most Valuable Player Award winner.

From (R-L) MTN Regional Trade Marketing Manager, North Central, Fatima Abba-Paris, Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Arch. BalaBantex, MTN Event & Sponsorship Manager, DolaBamgboye and UNICEF Country Representative, Jean Gough, displaying a cheque of N5million during the MTN UNICEF Charity Shield Polo tournament, being MTN’s donationwith respect to UNICEF’s  campaign against HIV/AIDS pandemic among Nigerian children.

The internationally acclaimed MTN UNICEF Charity Polo tournament through which UNICEF has been raising funds for charity, had earlier produced its first champions,  Fifth Chukker  team that defeated Kangimi 3-2  to win the Argentine Ambassador's  Cup.