The MTN Ghana Foundation has awarded full scholarships to 500 brilliant but needy tertiary students across public universities and other tertiary institutions in Ghana for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The beneficiaries, selected from a total of 5,194 applicants, will receive comprehensive financial support covering tuition, accommodation, stipends and laptops to enable them to pursue their academic programmes without the burden of financial constraints.
The awards were presented at a ceremony held at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as part of the Foundation’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and developing Ghana’s human capital.
This year’s edition of the MTN Bright Scholarship Awards, held under the theme “Honouring Students’ Excellence through Scholarships,” also prioritised inclusivity, with 14 persons with disabilities (PWDs) selected among the beneficiaries.
The scholarships comprise 300 awards for students pursuing first degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), vocational and technical programmes, and 200 awards for teachers seeking to advance their qualifications in STEM, vocational and technical education.
The initiative is expected to ease the financial difficulties confronting deserving students while strengthening the capacity of teachers to deliver quality education and equip learners with relevant practical skills.
TRANSPARENT SELECTION
Speaking to journalists at the ceremony, Robert Kuzoe, Senior Manager of the MTN Ghana Foundation, disclosed that the selection process began with 5,194 applications, from which 1,200 candidates were shortlisted for interviews before the final 500 beneficiaries were selected.
He explained that the rigorous process was necessary to identify applicants who demonstrated academic potential and genuine financial need.
According to him, the large number of applications received reflects the continuing demand for financial assistance among Ghanaian students seeking tertiary education.
Mr. Kuzoe noted that although the Foundation was proud to support the successful applicants, the number of students who applied but could not secure scholarships demonstrated that considerable need remained.
“Behind every scholarship is a person with a dream and a family hoping to see it fulfilled,” he said, emphasising the importance of providing opportunities for young people whose educational ambitions could otherwise be frustrated by financial difficulties.
He explained that the Foundation’s intervention was intended to ensure that financial hardship did not bring a promising educational journey to an abrupt end.
Mr. Kuzoe further observed that the programme had become particularly significant as MTN Ghana marked its 30th anniversary, providing an opportunity to reflect on the company’s contribution to communities and the development of the country.
INSPIRING SUCCESS STORY
To illustrate the impact of the scholarship scheme, Mr. Kuzoe recounted the story of a Ghanaian student who spent a year at home after completing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) because his family could not afford university fees.
With support from the MTN Ghana Foundation, the student subsequently gained the opportunity to study at the University for Development Studies (UDS).
He eventually graduated with distinction, earning recognition as the overall best male graduating student of the School of Pharmacy, as well as the best student in pharmacognosy and herbal medicine.
Mr. Kuzoe said the beneficiary’s achievement demonstrated what could happen when financial barriers were removed and talented young people were given the opportunity to pursue their ambitions.
“The talent was already his. So was the determination. The scholarship helped remove the financial barrier in his way,” he recounted.
He stressed that the Foundation’s objective was to help deserving students translate their abilities and determination into meaningful academic and professional achievements.
The story, he added, reinforced the need for sustained investment in educational opportunities, particularly for students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
TEACHERS URGED TO IMPROVE CLASSROOM DELIVERY
Mr. Kuzoe also challenged the 200 teachers who received scholarships to make the most of the opportunity by improving their professional knowledge and the quality of instruction they provide to their pupils and students.
He said the investment in teachers should produce benefits beyond the individual recipients, as the knowledge and skills they acquired would ultimately be transferred to learners in their respective classrooms.
He urged the teachers to make difficult concepts easier for students to understand and to connect classroom lessons with practical problems and real-life experiences.
“The value of your scholarship can reach every learner you teach,” he said.
According to him, strengthening teachers’ expertise in STEM, vocational and technical education was particularly important to preparing students for a rapidly changing economy in which scientific knowledge, technological competence and practical skills were increasingly essential.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to return to their classrooms with renewed commitment and apply the knowledge acquired to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
ADVICE TO STUDENT BENEFICIARIES
The MTN Ghana Foundation Senior Manager also advised the 300 student beneficiaries to approach their academic programmes with discipline, determination and a commitment to excellence.
He urged them to seek guidance when necessary, ask questions, and remain focused even when confronted with academic challenges.
Mr. Kuzoe reminded the students that their financial circumstances should not determine the limits of their ambitions.
He encouraged them to look beyond passing examinations and focus on acquiring knowledge and skills that could help address practical challenges in their communities and contribute to national development.
He further called on them to think critically, use technology responsibly, act with integrity and seek opportunities to solve problems.
According to him, the country’s digital future would require people who could develop innovative solutions and create opportunities rather than merely consume technology.
He explained that education and connectivity were closely linked, noting that while telecommunications networks provided access to information and opportunities, education and skills enabled people to translate that access into meaningful outcomes.
Mr. Kuzoe said the Foundation would continue to support initiatives that equip young people with the knowledge, confidence and capabilities needed to contribute to Ghana’s development.
He, however, acknowledged that educational institutions, families, businesses and other stakeholders must work together to ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed.
“MTN will continue to play its part,” he assured.
1,220 BENEFICIARIES SINCE 2018
Providing an overview of the programme’s achievements, Mr. Kuzoe disclosed that 1,220 students had benefited from the MTN Bright Scholarship Awards since the initiative was introduced in 2018.
He said the academic achievements recorded by beneficiaries demonstrated the positive impact of providing financial support to students with the ability and determination to excel.
According to him, the beneficiaries include 17 valedictorians and other top-performing students, while 299 have graduated with first-class honours.
A further 47 beneficiaries graduated with second-class upper honours, while 16 obtained second-class lower honours.
He also disclosed that eight valedictorians were celebrated during the current year, describing their achievements as evidence of the dedication and hard work demonstrated by students who received support under the programme.
Mr. Kuzoe said the Foundation was proud to have contributed to the success of the beneficiaries, while recognising that their achievements were primarily the result of their own commitment and perseverance.
The latest awards are expected to build on these successes by extending opportunities to more students and teachers whose academic and professional development could benefit from financial assistance.
A member of the scholarship selection jury, Professor Daniella Delali Sedegah of the University of Environment and Sustainable Studies, commended the MTN Ghana Foundation for its continued investment in education.
She acknowledged that the jury faced a difficult task in selecting the final 500 beneficiaries from the thousands of applications received.
The large number of qualified applicants, she indicated, made the selection exercise particularly challenging, as many candidates demonstrated a strong desire to pursue their education but could not all be accommodated under the programme.
Other stakeholders, including parents, guardians and lecturers from various tertiary institutions, also praised the Foundation for supporting brilliant but financially disadvantaged students.
Among the parents and guardians who expressed appreciation were Madam Mercy Nuamah, a worker in the water supply sector; Madam Esther Yeboah, a seamstress; Mr. Fred Kwadwo Andrews, a mason; and Esther Quaye, a guardian.
They commended the Foundation for introducing a programme that provides practical assistance to families struggling to meet the cost of tertiary education.
The stakeholders also expressed satisfaction with the transparency of the selection process and the comprehensive nature of the scholarship package.
They noted that the provision of tuition, accommodation, stipends and laptops would significantly ease the financial pressures confronting beneficiaries and allow them to concentrate on their studies.
Some of the successful applicants, including Gilbert Nyaaba Agongo of the University for Development Studies, expressed excitement about receiving the scholarships.
They described the awards as an important opportunity to pursue their academic ambitions with greater confidence and reduced financial anxiety.
The beneficiaries pledged to work hard, maintain high academic standards and justify the investment made in them by the MTN Ghana Foundation, as well as the sacrifices of their parents and guardians.
The inclusion of 14 persons with disabilities was also a notable feature of the awards, highlighting the importance of creating educational opportunities for students who may face additional barriers in accessing tertiary education.
The Foundation’s intervention is expected to support the beneficiaries throughout their academic journeys while contributing to the development of skilled professionals and educators for the country’s future.
With 500 additional scholarships awarded for the 2026/2027 academic year, the MTN Bright Scholarship Awards continues to position education as a key pillar of the Foundation’s social investment agenda.
The programme’s record since 2018, including the achievements of first-class graduates and valedictorians, underscores the potential of targeted educational support to transform individual lives, strengthen families and contribute to national development.
