Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC has disbursed a total of GH¢71,500 as the first tranche of a total amount of GH¢230,000 over a three-year period to 31 brilliant and needy students as part of its educational support initiatives.
The disbursements were done through the bank’s two endowment funds; the Standard Chartered Science Education Trust Fund (SC-SETF) and the Standard Chartered Kenneth Dadzie Memorial Education Trust Fund.
The 31 beneficiary students gained admission to study in the country’s top public universities, including the University of Ghana – Legon, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University College of Education, Winneba (UEW), University of Development Studies (UDS) and University of Cape Coast (UCC).
The SC Kenneth Dadzie Fund focuses on postgraduate programmes and provides support to students in fields such as Economics and business while the SC- SETF covers both undergraduate and postgraduate students pursuing Sciences.
A Trustee of the Fund, Prof. Edward Tsiri Agbenyega, touched on the eligibility, explaining that to be eligible, beneficiaries must be needy and brilliant, and must have demonstrated good conduct while pursuing their courses. Also, beneficiaries must be students of any of the five public universities in Ghana.
He also stated that the bank believes everyone should have access to opportunities to realize their full potential. Adding that through the two funds, the bank supports and contributes to education and continues to make a difference in the lives of bright and needy students in the five public universities in Ghana
Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors, StandChart Ghana, Ebenezer Asante, speaking to the beneficiaries, said: “Standard Chartered is a strong believer in education and empowering the next generation, and I trust that by this simple gesture you will be able to complete your studies and fulfill your dreams and the dreams of your parents and guardians”.
He urged the students not to be discouraged by their failures but to learn from them, be diligent, and continue to work hard.
He further mentioned that Standard Chartered is committed to using its core business of banking to promote social and economic development in the countries where it operates while providing products and services to individuals and companies to drive local, regional and global economic development and job creation.
Standard Chartered also has an initiative, dubbed: ‘Futuremakers’, which is the bank’s global strategy to tackle inequality and promote economic inclusion. The initiative is supporting young people through programmes focused on education, employability,and entrepreneurship.
In Ghana, the Youth to Work and Youth Employability Skills programmes have impacted more than 10,000 young people.
