Two Ghanaian students currently studying at the University of Reading in England were the first to be awarded the University’s new Diageo Scholarships Scheme last year, and are aspiring to contribute to Ghana’s economic and agricultural development after graduating.
Christian Crentsil from Kumasi is studying for a Masters Degree in Agricultural Development Economics, while Lukest Mensah from Accra is also studying for a Masters Degree in Development Finance.
A press release signed by Ms Elizabeth Reed, the University’s Regional Development Manager for Africa, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said the two Ghanaians are lucky beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme supported by Diageo plc and the Diageo Foundation, which has provided them with comprehensive funding to cover both tuition fees and living costs worth £23,000, or approximately 60,000 Ghanaian Cedis.
The release quoted Mr Ian Wright, Corporate Relations Director at Diageo, as saying: "We are delighted to support Christian and Lukest in their desire to contribute to economic development in Ghana. The Diageo Scholarships were conceived for just this purpose. Ghana is an important market for Diageo … The expertise which Christian and Lukest will gain from their time at Reading will stand them in good stead to make an important contribution to prosperity at home."
It further stated that Reading University was making another offer for two talented students to study at the University via the Diageo Scholarship Scheme in the 2011/2012 academic year.
“Students resident in Sub-Saharan Africa who plan to study for a Masters degree within the Graduate Institute of International Development and Applied Economics (GIIDAE) at Reading University are eligible to apply for the next round of scholarships”.
The release said Reading's cutting-edge research extended to the continent of Africa and currently led the world's fight to ensure the sustainability of cocoa production, one of the most important sources of income for many countries in the tropics, including Ghana where cocoa accounts for over 40 per cent of total export revenues.
It indicated that the University which ranked in the top 200 universities in the world according to the QS World University Rankings, had been receiving students from abroad for more than 100 years and currently taught 5,000 students from outside of the UK.