Liberia: Lonestar Cell MTN, Viamo Expands Access to Essential Information

Liberia’s Leading technology company, Lonestar Cell MTN, has partnered with a global development organization to launch a new mobile education service on its network for underserved communities.   

The 3-2-1 service, launched with VIAMO,  is a mobile-based platform that delivers vital information directly to users' phones via interactive voice response (IVR) technology. 

By dialing 3-2-1, users can access a wide range of information like educational content, agricultural tips, health information, financial literacy tips, weather information and news updates regardless of their devices' make or model 

"We are delighted to bring the 3-2-1 service to Liberia in partnership with Lonestar Cell MTN,” said VIAMO Country Director, Dr. Nii Lante Heward-Mills.

“We believe that access to information is a fundamental right.  By providing essential knowledge through our mobile platform, we empower people to make better decisions, improve their well-being, and drive sustainable development," he added. 

Lonestar Cell MTN Chief Marketing Officer, Abiodun Ajayi, said the service addresses information gaps which hinder development and progress in underserved communities.  

This effort is aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global compact which we are a part of.      

“The 3-2-1 platform enables subscribers, regardless of their literacy level, to listen to and learn from critical information to empower their lives using their mobile phones.  

The information provided is relevant, tailored and timely. We believe this is what it means to be modern and connected,” Ajayi said.

Meanwhile, Lonestar has announced that 30 contestants have  moved on to the next round of  its MoMo Heroes of Change Program.

The 30 nominees came out of nearly 6,000 nominations the company recieved from  Liberians for the programs. They were selected after a rigorous vetting process.   

The MTN Heroes of Change program looks to highlight the selfless work done by individuals in their communities in health, education, youth, women's development, tech solutions, and community impact and development. 

In the next phase of the program, these 30 nominees will now be further screened down to 10 by a voting process that will be open to the public and the Heroes of Change panel of judges. 

The top ten contestants that emerge from this stage of voting will move on to the next round of voting after which five contestants will enter the grand finale.   

Momo Heroes of Change Governing Council Lead, James Dorbor Jallah said that because this program is a meaningful one, the Council and the panel of judges took an extra measure to ensure the vetting process was fair and transparent for   each contestan.

“During the vetting process, we discovered all but one of the entries cut across all the thematic areas of health, education, youth, women's development, tech solutions, and community impact outlined in the MoMo Heroes of Change program. We created a rubric upon which all entries were rigorously judged and scored regardless of thematic area.  These people are positively changing the lives of Liberians across the country, " he said. 

With the announcement of the Golden 30, Liberians will vote for their choice by dialing a- USSD code at no cost to  them. The voting public will have a 30-percent weighting for their vote while the judges' vote will have a 70-percent weighting.  For more details on the voting process, subscribers should follow Lonestar Cell MTN social media  

Lonestar Cell MTN Mobile Financial Services General Manager, Christopher Ssali said that the work being done in communities by these people is tremendous.   

 ‘’Clearly, these people are transforming their communities. We are looking forward to recognizing and rewarding their gallant spirit, community impact, and innovativeness, “he noted.  

The thirty individuals moving on to the next round of voting are: 

Wainright Acquoi, Tribe;  

Brenda Brewer Moore, Kid's Educational Engagement Project;  

Jarius Andrew Greaves, YONER Liberia;  

Luther D. Jeke, ICampus Liberia;  

Lela Precious Dolo, Help A Mother and Newborn Initiative,  

Androvish Germanus Barrian, We Write Liberia;  

Archie Forpoh, Innoignite;  

Edmund D. Taylor & Sele Max Fuah, Smiling Faces International;  

Julie McGhee, Liberia Youth Orchestra 

Francis A. Varney, 4Life Zoe Company;  

Tarlee A. Nuahn, Teacher's Farm;  

Fatu Saingbe Wilson, Pad4Her;  

James Z.T. Browne, Impact International Liberia, Inc. 

Ne-Suah B. Livingstone, Rescue for Abandoned and Children in Hardship 

Thomas Tamba Bundoo, Hope for Young People, Inc.;  

Clifford Payne, Never Stop Learning;  

Mamadee S. Sannoh, Sunrise Film Production;  

Sunrise Antoinio Marcar, Jr., Leading Youth to Foster Transformation in Africa;  

Mustapha Z. Sherman, Book Before Boys;  

Zhalman Harris, Aletha's Legacy;  

James Papy Kwabo, Jr., Alternative Radio;  

Archie Benedict Rogers, Arch Media Agency; 

Edwin Olu Bestman, Young Scholars of Liberia; 

Nyaniyon M. Dorbor, Youth United for Sustainable Development;  

Papa Marris, Kwatekeh FM;  

Raphael E. Donokolo, II, St. John Vocational Training Institute;  

Tony B. Harrison, National Scholastic Clube of Liberia;  

Nathaniel Omalley Segbee Jr., Teach Liberia;  

B. Massa Weeks, Girls in Technology Liberia;  

Linda Playma Lloyd, Girls Education Foundation Liberia.  

The MoMo Heroes of Change winners will receive financial awards to continue their community work. The first to third-place winners will receive L$1.5 million, L$600K, and L$300K respectively.