As part of its 2025 Y’ello Connect initiative, MTN has conducted a training session on ethical artificial intelligence (AI) usage for students at St. Augustine College of Education, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos.
The session, held on the school’s premises, was led by MTN employees as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) effort aimed at promoting digital literacy. MTN’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mrs. Onyinye Ikenya-Emeka, explained that the initiative focuses on empowering young people to engage with AI in a responsible and productive manner.
“This year, our focus is on ‘connecting at the roots,’ which means revisiting the fundamentals of digital literacy,” Ikenya-Emeka stated. “Since June 1, we’ve been engaging communities in schools, churches, markets, and skill centers to promote digital education. At St. Augustine’s College, our goal is to raise awareness around emerging digital tools like AI and machine learning, and emphasize the importance of using them ethically.”
She expressed concern over growing academic dishonesty due to AI misuse. “Many students are submitting plagiarized work, relying solely on AI tools instead of applying their own thinking. We’re not against AI—we’re advocating for meaningful and ethical usage.”
Ikenya-Emeka highlighted how students can use AI to enhance their learning, deepen understanding, and achieve more value from their academic efforts. “A strong foundation in digital literacy prepares students for the rapidly changing world,” she added.
Supporting the message, Mrs. Ugochi Agoreyo, Strategic Partner Development Manager at Google Search, urged students to integrate AI into their learning processes rather than using it to complete assignments for them. “AI can personalise and optimise learning, helping students become more efficient. The key is learning how to use it ethically and beneficially,” she said.
Ayobamidele Oke, a Solution Architect with Huawei, also educated the students on effective prompt engineering.
He advised them to assign clear roles to AI tools and be specific in their instructions to get the best results.
The college’s Provost, Rev. Fr. (Dr) Vincent Olofinkua, commended MTN’s initiative, calling it a major stride in closing the digital divide and preparing students for the future. “AI is reshaping education, business, and society. MTN’s support goes beyond equipment—it’s an investment in the intellectual growth and digital readiness of our students,” he said.
To support the training, MTN donated several items to the college, including an Acer projector with a screen, two laptops, 10 desktop computers with monitors, 10 Mifis, and a 5G router.
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The Y’ello Connect programme has been a core part of MTN’s community engagement for the past 18 years and is active across the 19 countries where the telecom company operates.
