By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Kano
A 300-level Agriculture student of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Ramatu Yakubu, has driven home a brand-new car valued at ₦35 million after emerging overall winner at the MTN Pulse Campus Invasion competition.
Her triumph crowned a three-day event held on the university campus, where MTN Nigeria engaged students through its “GoMAD on Campus” initiative aimed at empowering young people with digital skills, entrepreneurship support and entertainment.
Ramatu beat hundreds of other contestants across various categories in a series of competitive activities that also saw students win laptops, tablets, smartphones and cash prizes. Her win sparked excitement among students and staff who gathered to celebrate the milestone.
Speaking at the event, MTN Nigeria’s Youth Segment Manager, Femi Adesina, said the programme was a demonstration of the telecom company’s ongoing commitment to youth development across Nigeria.
“As an organisation, we believe strongly in the Nigerian youth. We are not just here to talk to them, but to walk with them, support them, and empower them to be their best selves,” Adesina said.
He noted that MTN Pulse Campus Invasion transforms participating campuses into vibrant centres of music, gaming, skill development and digital innovation.
The initiative has toured universities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, including the University of Abuja, University of Benin, Federal University of Technology Owerri and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
In Kano, the event featured live performances from Nigerian celebrities, gaming villages, cinema nights and demonstrations of MTN’s 5G technology.
“We want to move away from being a brand that only talks, to being a brand that acts. That’s why we’re giving students the opportunity to showcase their products and sell, while also rewarding them with tools to grow,” Adesina said.
He added that MTN provided free exhibition spaces for 10 student entrepreneurs displaying items such as food, snacks, fashion accessories and crafts.
Laptops worth ₦4 million, tablets valued at ₦3 million, power banks, art kits and cash prizes ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦150,000 were among the items distributed during the programme.
Adesina further said MTN’s wider youth empowerment activities include scholarships for young women, science and technology students and persons with disabilities.
“This is our way of showing that we see them, we believe in them, and we want to be part of their journey. MTN is not just a network provider; we are a partner in their growth,” he added.
Students who attended the event described it as one of the most memorable experiences of their time on campus and expressed appreciation to MTN for its support.