Accra, Ghana//-The MTN Foundation Board has decided as part of MTN’s 25th Anniversary celebration to launch the MTN BRIGHT Scholarship reloaded to award a second batch of 300 Scholarships for another three years ending in 2024 to brilliant and needy students in public institutions.
The scholarship scheme, which will be awarded 100 per year follows the successes and the impact of the MTN Bright Scholarship scheme which was instituted to mark the 20th anniversary of MTN Ghana.
The second scholarship reloaded package will cover tuition, accommodation, a stipend of GHS 1,150 per semester and a laptop to facilitate learning.
Courses
The Chief Executive Officer of MN Ghana, Selorm Adadevoh who disclosed this at the reloaded scheme in Accra, said while the scholarship is open to all, special attention would be given to students pursuing courses in the science, mathematics, ICT and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
He mentioned the courses as Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Data Analytics, Robotics; and Vocational Skills and Technical Training (both Pre-Tertiary and Tertiary Education Institution).
Mr Adadevoh was quick to add that the scholarship scheme reloaded would also carter for Physically Challenged Persons interested in pursuing ICT and Computer Science Courses.
Special package for students in new regions
Additionally, students who have schooled and lived in the newly created regions such as Bono East, Ahafo, Savannah, North East, Western North, and Oti regions, according to him.
“We are confident that giving priority to these areas will go a long way in driving our progress as a nation and enhancing the skill-sets of our students for the future. Coming out of a global pandemic, we have all realized that there is the need to be adequately equipped with the relevant ICT knowledge, skills and tools”.
Enhancement of the first package
He explained that the second scheme is called Bright Scholarship reloaded because it is an enhancement of the first package of the MTN Bright Scholarship scheme that was launched in fulfillment of a commitment MTN made to Ghanaians during the commemoration of its 20th Anniversary in 2016.
The first package promised to award 300 scholarships over a three-year period to needy and brilliant students in public tertiary institutions.
By the year 2020, the final batch to complete the 300 scholarships was presented to beneficiaries for the 2020/2021 academic year, according to the CEO.
Of the 300 BRIGHT scholars to date, over 119 beneficiaries have graduated. Out of this number, 82 graduated with first class degrees (70%) with24 receiving special awards including valedictorians (20%), he revealed.
“Since its inception, the response to the scheme has been overwhelming. We have received between 12,000 to 15,000 applications.
Sadly, there are so many brilliant and needy students who are denied tertiary education each year only because they cannot afford it”.
An opportunity for hope and prosperity was taken away from so many. For some 300 students, had it not been for the MTN Bright Scholarship scheme, they would also have been denied this opportunity, Mr Adadevoh observed.
“We have learnt a lot in the process of screening many bright and needy Ghanaian youth. We came across female students who were on the verge of dropping out of school because their families wouldn’t pay their fees just because they were women”.
The scholarship scheme has brought hope to so many
For Mr Adadevoh, it is humbling to know that the scholarship scheme has brought hope to so many, and relief and peace of mind to many young Ghanaians and their families.
He noted that investment in education remains critical to the MTN Ghana Foundation because they believe that access to education is a must have in ending extreme poverty.
“It is the most fundamental source of hope, and the most guaranteed path for us all to improve our lives in a sustainable way.
In simple language we know that the level of education achieved not only maximizes an individual’s opportunities, but also to advance relevant social and economic progress”, Mr Adadevoh said.
The CEO said the MTN Ghana Foundation which is the corporate social responsibility wing of MTN Ghana is always excited to support education and hence, they have implemented over 87 projects and over 1000 scholarships issued since the Foundation’s inception.
Since its establishment, the MTN Foundation has touched more than four million lives across education, health and economic empowerment with an investment of over $15m in 158 projects, Mr Adadevoh emphasized.
He assured: “We pledge to continue to support our youth by providing opportunities that will enable them to realize their goals and dreams”.
The scheme timely
Launching the scholarship reloaded, Deputy Minister of Education, Rev John Ntim Fordjour said the MTN Ghana Foundation’s investment in the MTN BRIGHT Scholarship Reloaded scheme was timely as it would aside impacting the beneficiaries and Ghanaians also complement Government’s Educational agenda.
This timely intervention will equally ease the burden on parents and guardians of these students or even some of students who are pushing themselves at all costs to finish their Tertiary education, he added.
“We also know that the Success of these beneficiaries most importantly will be success for all of us as this scholarship scheme is carefully structured to monitor their development.
MTN Ghana Foundation, and the Government of Ghana salute and appreciate your exemplary leadership as such initiatives brighten the lives of Ghanaians”.
MTN Ghana’s consistent efforts in supporting government’s flagship projects that promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGS) is extremely laudable and we are appreciative of your commitment and steps to also support Government’s Ghana CARES Initiative to revamp the economy post the COVID-19 pandemic”, Rev Fordjour said.
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