Minister commends MTN foundation for relieving 120 students with scholarship, urges other organizations to emulate

Credit: Nana Peprah


The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, has commended MTN foundation for awarding Scholarships to One Hundred and Twenty (120) students under its Bright Scholarship Scheme.

Commending the telecommunication network for exercising its corporate social responsibility, the minister entreated other companies and corporate organizations to emulate such acts to ensure progress.

The regional minister who reiterated the government's readiness to support every agenda that seeks to push education forward, said, it was time everybody contributed their quota to the call.

According to him, the Akuffo Addo-led NPP government which is bent on ensuring the well-being, quality and easy access to our education by every person, was never going to relent on its efforts.

Mr. I.K Acheampong who read the speech on behalf of the Regional Minister during MTN's Bright Scholarship Scheme in Kumasi, said, it was very important to prioritize the education of our youth who owe it a duty to manage the affairs of this country in the near future.



The Regional Minister further revealed that the government was committed to providing quality education, hence, the implementation of Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, and the introduction of STEM, TVET etc. He said, all these new directions are aimed at making Ghanaian graduates creative at the expense of merely studying for examination purposes.



The minister said this during
the Bright Scholarship Event for tertiary students organised by the MTN Foundation at the Law Faculty Block, KNUST- Kumasi on Friday, September 8, 2023.

The first part of the ceremony which was held in Accra for Sixty (60) beneficiary students representing the Southern sector, saw the second batch of sixty (60) beneficiaries from the Northern sector, also receive theirs.

Representing the Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Mr. Samuel Koranteng, a Board Member of the MTN foundation said, the Bright Scholarship was meant to reduce the financial burden on beneficiary students especially the brilliant but needy ones, so that their dreams in life may get into reality.

He said, beneficiaries were going to have their tuition fees being catered for. In addition to that, he said provision of accommodation, laptop and stipend were going to be provided for each beneficiary at every semester.

He revealed that a total of One Hundred and Twenty (120) students from public tertiary institutions are being awarded the MTN Bright Scholarship for the 2023/2024 Academic year. He noted that, going forward, plans were underway to ensure many students enjoyed this policy.

According to him, this year's edition focused more on students in Computer Science, Vocational, STEM, and Students with disabilities.

He said 200 out of 1,900 applicants from 17 public institutions were initially shortlisted for interview.

He further indicated that the scheme, after thorough interview, settled on 120 beneficiaries across the country.

He finally entreated beneficiary students to make sure this award sees its target yield into fruition.

He stated that beneficiaries by virtue of taking their studies very serious will make themselves, their parents, the MTN foundation and the nation proud.

The Board Member further gave the assurance that they would continue to invest in fields such as education, health and also engage in economic empowerment.

Some beneficiary students who spoke to this reporter said, the scheme was going to relieve them from the numerous difficulties they pass through.

Director of students affairs at the KNUST, Prof. Wilson Agyare who spoke on behalf of the University's Vice Chancelor lauded MTN-Ghana for continues investment in education.

Indicating the gesture as a sigh of relief for many students, the professor narrated how some students were suffering financially. "We know there are some of them who sometimes find it difficult to go go home due to the lack of transport fares."

He finally urged beneficiary students not to play jokes with the opportunities they have received from the MTN Foundation.