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MTN Ghana has launched a scheme to sponsor 300 brilliant needy Ghanaian students to secure tertiary education in three years.
The scheme, Bright Scholarship Reloaded, will cover tuition, accommodation, a stipend of GH¢1,150 per semester and a laptop to facilitate learning.
It is part of the second batch of the scheme that was introduced during the 20th anniversary of MTN Ghana in 2016.
The Chief Executives Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevoh, at the launch of the scheme in Accra, observed that the Bright Scholarship Reloaded was an enhancement of the first package of the MTN Bright Scholarship scheme.
“Following these successes and the impact of the MTN Bright Scholarship scheme, the MTN Foundation Board decided as part of MTN’s 25th-anniversary celebration to launch the scholarship programme to award a second batch of 300 scholarships for another three years,” he said.
He stated that while the scholarship was open to all, special attention would be given to students pursuing courses in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, data analytics, robotics, among others.
Mr Adadevoh said it would also provide support to students in vocational skills and technical training (Both pre-tertiary and tertiary education institution).
“We will support physically challenged persons interested in pursuing information communications technology (ICT) and computer science courses.
“Students who have schooled and lived in the newly created regions — Bono East, Ahafo Region, Savannah Region, North East Region, Western North Region and Oti Region,” he said.
He expressed confidence that giving priority to those areas would go a long way in driving progress as a nation and enhancing the skills of students for the future.
“Coming out of a global pandemic, we have all realised that there is the need to be adequately equipped with the relevant ICT knowledge, skills and tools,” he said.
According to him, investment in education remained critical because MTN Ghana Foundation believed that access to education was a must in ending extreme poverty.
He said it was the most fundamental source of hope, and the most guaranteed path for people to improve their lives in a sustainable way.
“In simple language, we know that the levels of education achieved not only maximised an individual’s opportunities, but also to advance relevant social and economic progress.
“We are excited to support education and hence through the MTN Foundation, we have implemented over 87 projects and over 1,000 scholarships issued since inception,” he added.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, said tertiary education was vital for the development of human capital, innovation, competitiveness, fostering growth, reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity in every economy.
He said effective tertiary education systems ensured that countries had well-trained doctors, nurses, teachers, managers, engineers, technicians and a generally productive workforce within the public and private sectors.
He added that as the world sought to build back better into a new era of green and equitable economic growth, tertiary education systems were at the heart of the big transformations required throughout economies and societies.
