The Vodafone Ghana Foundation in conjunction with the Vodafone Business Unit has donated 200 brand-new laptops to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to aid in the institutionalisation of blended teaching and learning methods across the school.
The donation forms part of a number of philanthropic activities designed to kick-off the Foundation’s new staff volunteering initiative, dubbed ‘Kindred Month’, which takes place throughout the month of February. It further underscores Vodafone Ghana’s dedication to the development of science and technology across the country, through innovative interventions and partnerships that also bolster government’s national digitalisation agenda.
Speaking at the handing-over ceremony, the Vodafone Business Director, Tawa Bolarin, said the donation seeks to democratise access to critical learning tools in an increasingly digital world, thereby empowering students to achieve excellence.
She reiterated that this has become particularly imperative amid the on-raging COVID-19 pandemic which has necessitated that institutions of learning rethink and restructure their approach to tuition, with an emphasis on virtual or contactless class sessions powered by digital platforms.
“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the reality that, in this era, technology has now become an inextricable part of our daily existence and a critical facilitator of progress and success across all sectors and disciplines, including education. In embracing this new normal, however, it is absolutely imperative that we ensure equity of access to the basic digital tools and enablers which will ensure nobody is left out in the quest of pursuing progress and excellence.
“It is for this reason that we are here today, subsequent to prior discussions with management of this prestigious university to donate these 200 laptops to ensure everyone is part of the digitalisation agenda. As agreed, we believe that the needy students who will benefit from this initiative will be inspired and empowered to achieve greater heights of excellence in their academic pursuits.”
Head of Vodafone Ghana Foundation, Amaris Nana A. Perbi who was also present at the brief handing-over ceremony, reiterated that the Foundation remains steadfast and consistent in working toward its goal of digitally connecting communities – leaving no one behind.
“Vodafone Ghana Foundation, in driving the CSR agenda of Vodafone Ghana, will remain committed in dedicating our resources to support communities and creating avenues that address key socio-economic concerns of the communities in which we operate.
“Under ‘Digital Education’, the Foundation has sustainable and innovative projects which students can take advantage of. These programmes include Instant Schools, National Coding Programme and ICT Hubs.” He also took advantage of the presentation to throw more light on Vodafone Foundation’s Kindred Month initiative; a staff-led community volunteering drive that will see staff of Vodafone Ghana engage in a plethora of CSR activities throughout the month of February.
The Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson – who received the items on behalf of the school, expressed gratitude to Vodafone Ghana Foundation and Vodafone Business for their kind gesture. She noted that the intervention is timely as it had come at a time when the university has taken the bold decision to blend physical class sessions with virtual ones, in order to circumnavigate continued threats from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Indeed, the mandate of churning out the nation’s new generation of brains cannot be attained without committed partners. Vodafone has over the years proven to be the ideal partner in this pursuit; from your provision of an optimised fibre network accessible to all students, specially-designed student data bundle offers to facilitate teaching and learning, and now this magnanimous donation that will enable the needy students among us to fully participate in our increasingly virtual class sessions. Wow! All I can say is God bless you and continue to give you the wherewithal to support education in Ghana.”
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