Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced on Monday five days of mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash.

“I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” said Khamenei in an official statement a day after the death of Raisi and other officials in the crash in East Azerbaijan province.

President Raisi died on Monday after his helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of the country.

Raisi was travelling with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who also died in the accident.

READ ALSO: List Of Persons On Board Iranian President’s Missing Helicopter

Rescue teams had been scouring the area since Sunday afternoon after a helicopter carrying Raisi, the foreign minister and other officials had gone missing.

Early Monday, relief workers located the missing helicopter, with state TV saying the president had died.

“The servant of Iranian nation, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi has achieved the highest level of martyrdom whilst serving the people,” state television said Monday, with Mehr news agency also saying he was dead.

State television broadcast photos of Raisi, with the voice of a man reciting the Koran playing in the background.

Iran’s vice president for executive affairs Mohsen Mansouri posted on X a Koranic verse used to express condolences.

MTN Nigeria Foundation on Friday announced scholarship opportunities for Nigerian students to support education and empower the next generation of leaders.

MTN also announced that the online registration portal is now open for interested undergraduate and Postgraduate students.

It has also increased the annual award amount from N200,000 to N300,000 for eligible students.

The scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation, and other academic expenses.

The application deadline is June 12th, 2024.

The MTN scholarship types you can apply for

There are three main academic scholarships available from MTN that you can apply for. These are as follows:

MTN Science and Technology Scholarship (MTN STS): This flagship program, established in 2010, supports 300-level students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions (universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education) who are pursuing Science and Technology-related fields. Each year, 300 students maintaining good grades receive scholarships of N200,000.00, renewable annually until graduation.

MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (MTN SBS): The program began in 2012 for visually impaired students in 200 and 300-level programs enrolled in Nigerian public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. 100 high-achieving visually impaired students will each get a ₦ N300,000 scholarship each year until graduation if grade requirements are met.

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Top 10 UTME Scholarship: The top 10 scoring candidates of UTME as announced by JAMB, automatically qualify for the top 10 UTME scholarship. The candidates are awarded scholarships from their 100 level through to graduation upon meeting grade requirements and each student will get an annual award amount of N300,000. The Top 10 UTME Scholarship is awarded irrespective of the successful candidates’ preferred course of study or Tertiary Institution – Public or Private in Nigeria.

Below is how to apply for an MTN scholarship:
1. Check Eligibility

Researching and understanding the eligibility criteria before applying for an MTN Scholarship is important. These scholarships are typically available to undergraduate students at accredited Nigerian higher institutions. Ensure you meet the minimum requirements, including age, educational background, and CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average). Review the specific criteria provided by the MTN Foundation to verify your eligibility.

The eligibility requirements for the MTN Scholarships are as follows:

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Institution of study

Students enrolled in a Nigerian public tertiary institution (university, polytechnic, or college of education) can apply for either the MTN Science and Technology Scholarship (STS) or the MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (SBS).

Course of Study

The MTN Science and Technology Scholarship is available to undergraduates in Nigerian public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education who are majoring in science or technology-related fields.

Visually impaired students in their second or third year of study at a Nigerian public university, polytechnic, or college of education are eligible to apply for the MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (SBS).

Level of Study

MTN recognises that the academic calendar varies across public tertiary institutions. Therefore, the MTN Science and Technology Scholarship is open to students who have completed their second semester of 200 level and are advancing to 300 level as well as those currently enrolled in 300 level.

The MTN Scholarship for Blind Students is available to blind students in their second or third year of study at any Nigerian public university, polytechnic, or college of education. For law students, whose program spans five years, the MTN Scholarship is available only to those in their third year of study.

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Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
Students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics at a public university or college of education are eligible if they maintain a CGPA of 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale) or 3.5 (second-class upper).
Students in STEM fields aiming to enrol in the Higher National Diploma program at public polytechnics must have a CGPA of 3.0 or higher in their Ordinary National Diploma program.
Direct Entry students seeking to enter the third year of study in a STEM field at the university level must have a CGPA of at least 3.0 (upper credit) in the relevant subject area from the OND program.

MTN Scholarship for blind students

Visually impaired students enrolled in higher education institutions must maintain a CGPA of 2.5 or higher.

Blind students seeking the MTN scholarship at a public polytechnic must have completed the OND program with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 and must be accepted into the HND program.

2. Gather the required documents

To complete the application process smoothly, gather all necessary documents and ensure all documents are well-organized, up-to-date and meet the specified requirements. These may include:

– Recent passport photograph
– Valid identification card
– Admission letter
– Academic transcripts
– Letter of recommendation from a reputable academic referee
– A concise biography of yourself and an explanation of why you deserve the scholarship

3. Visit the MTN Foundation Scholarship Portal

Access the MTN Foundation Scholarship portal through the official website at [MTN Scholarships](https://apps.mtn.ng/scholarships/).
Accurately fill in the 7-step application form, including personal details, contact information, and academic background and provide correct and verifiable information to avoid any disqualification.

4. Review

Once the necessary required information and documents have been provided, review all the provided information and attached documents and make necessary edits or corrections.

5. Submit

Once you are satisfied with your application, submit it through the portal.

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in a hard landing while visiting a northern region and his condition is currently unknown.

There were three helicopters in this convoy, two of which were carrying ministers and officials, and they arrived at their destination safely.

According to reports, different rescue groups are moving towards the area to locate the missing helicopter.

DAILY POST reported that it was unclear if Raisi and others on board with him survived the crash.

READ ALSO: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Azerbaijan Offer Help To Search President Raisi’s Helicopter

However, given the unsuitable weather conditions, it may take some time for the rescue team to find the helicopter.

According to World of Statistics, those onboard the helicopter when the incident occurred include Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, representative of Iranian Supreme Leader to East Azerbaijan.