Stanbic donates to KNUST in support of STEM

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Stanbic donates to KNUST in support of STEM

Stanbic Bank Ghana has handed over the second batch of 50 laptops to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in fulfilment of the bank’s commitment to the university’s Support One Needy Student, One Laptop (SONSOL) project. The donation brings the number of laptops given to the school so far to 150.

Speaking at a short ceremony to officially present the laptops to the school on the campus of KNUST, Head of Brand and Marketing at Stanbic Bank, Mawuko Afadzinu, highlighted the importance of such interventions for the development of STEM education – especially for girls.

“At Stanbic Bank, we are constantly looking for areas where we can deepen the relationship we already have with KNUST. And we know one of the big projects on the heart of the Vice Chancellor is supporting needy students who have gifted learning capacity and providing them with basic IT support tools. STEM education, particularly for women, is one of the areas Stanbic Bank has been keenly supporting.

“We hope that this donation will continue with that initiative to make a difference in the lives of our women. The number of female students undertaking STEM education is very low when compared to other countries, and we hope our donation will play a part to close the gap. May this provide a base on which a positive story can be built upon,” he said.

Mawuko Afadzinu added that the bank is looking beyond the donation to include mentorship for beneficiaries of the SONSOL project. According to him, “We are looking at going beyond giving of laptops, to building a community.

“So, we are looking at other areas of supporting the beneficiaries along the path of their educational journey; possibly by providing mentorship, linking them up with different networks and seeing where we can get internship opportunities and all the different things that will be levers for them to be able to succeed in their careers. Because without that consistent push, there are just too many blockers in our system which don’t allow them to flourish.”

The Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, who received the donation, commended Stanbic Bank for their constant support to the school. She said: “I recall when I took over the reins of this great university as the Vice Chancellor how very warmly the Stanbic family came to our aid.

“It is heartwarming to know that in this noble duty and calling we have in terms of grooming the future leaders – not just for Ghana, but even beyond the shores of Ghana – we are never alone. When we knocked on your door, you were very happy to help. We are not surprised that this year, too, you are here to honour your promise.

“We are very excited that you have partnered us on this path.  As the leading science and technology university in Ghana, we know the difference that STEM education will make in our country. We are thus grateful and super-excited to hear about your focus on STEM, because you have really touched the nerve of KNUST.”

The SONSOL project is an initiative of the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, which aims at supporting needy student with laptops to help them pursue their university education. Stanbic Bank Ghana, as part of its commitment to make dreams possible – through high impact interventions including education for the people of Ghana – pledged to donate 200 laptops over a period of 4 years in support of the project.

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