MTN Foundation has opened nationwide nominations for the 2026 edition of its What Can We Do Together (WCWDT) initiative, with plans to upgrade 40 public primary healthcare centres and 15 public secondary school science laboratories across Nigeria. The Foundation said the intervention will focus on maternal healthcare delivery and science education in underserved communities. Nominations opened on May 5 and will close on July 5, 2026.
According to the World Health Organisation, Nigeria accounts for nearly 20 per cent of global maternal deaths. Nigeria also has more than 30,000 primary healthcare centres nationwide, many of which face infrastructure and equipment challenges. Against this backdrop, the Foundation said the 2026 intervention will prioritise maternal wards in selected PHCs to improve patient care and access to essential healthcare services.
The Foundation also disclosed that it will renovate and equip 15 science laboratories in public secondary schools across the six geopolitical zones to strengthen practical science learning and STEM education. The intervention aims to support better learning environments and improve access to science facilities for students in public schools.
Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, said the initiative will support science education and open up opportunities for students. “In education, we are supporting the next generation of scientists, engineers and doctors by giving them access to science laboratories where they can learn through practice and imagination. We are also opening nominations for communities and schools to benefit from these interventions, and we encourage Nigerians to take part in the process,” she said.
Principal of Iwerekun Junior School, Lakowe, Mr Azeezat Olatunji Fatai, who attended the media parley, shared how the introduction of an ICT laboratory has improved learning outcomes for over 2,000 students in the school, including more than 400 in technical classes. “Since the installation of the ICT lab, we have seen significant improvements across the school. Our students have developed stronger ICT skills, show greater confidence in using technology, and recently emerged first in an inter-school competition,” he said.