By Elizabeth PUNSU
The MTN Foundation has awarded scholarships to 100 students in the Northern Business Zone as part of its 2024 Bright Scholarship Awards programme, reaffirming the company’s dedication to education and inclusivity.
This is the second batch of 200 students, who were given scholarships for the 2024/25 academic year across the country.
Among the beneficiaries, 20 differently-abled students were recognised for their academic potential and determination.
This scholarship initiative, launched in 2018, aims to support deserving students across Ghana by providing financial aid that covers tuition, accommodation, stipends and a laptop to aid their studies. The Bright Scholarship is a testament of MTN’s commitment to ensuring that students, regardless of their physical abilities or financial background, have equal opportunities to succeed.
This year, the Bright Scholars will have the opportunity to have extra-curricular certificate courses from other higher learning institutions globally.
At a ceremony to formally present and outdoor the awardees at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Senior Manager-MTN Ghana Foundation Robert Kuzoe highlighted the scholarship programme’s growth. Initially, the target was to award 100 scholarships per year but that number has increased over time, with 120 scholarships awarded in 2023 and 200 awarded this year.
This brings the total number of students who have benefitted from the programme since its inception to over 520.
He emphasised that the programme is designed to ease the financial burden on students in public tertiary institutions and promote equal access to education for all. “This scholarship programme is a reflection of our commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said Mr. Kuzoe.
Municipal Chief Executive for Oforikrom, Abraham Antwi – who represented the Ashanti Regional Minister, commended MTN Ghana for its dedication to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He praised the company for not only being a leader in telecommunications but also playing a key role in youth development and national progress through initiatives like the Bright Scholarship.
“Our region is home to some of the brightest minds in the country, and I am confident that many of today’s awardees will go on to become leaders in their respective fields,” he said.
One of the scholarship recipients, Nzor Paulinus, a visually-impaired student from Wesley College of Education, Kumasi, expressed his gratitude. “I am very thankful for this scholarship. It will be a turning-point for my future. Being an orphan and visually-impaired, I have faced numerous financial challenges. This scholarship will help me overcome those obstacles and pursue my education without worry,” he said.
The MTN Foundation’s Bright Scholarship Programme continues to provide hope and opportunities for students across Ghana, reinforcing the company’s role in supporting education and national development.
