Five hundred (500) of over five thousand (5,000) needy but brilliant tertiary students across various public universities in Ghana who applied for scholarship awards have been awarded full scholarships by the MTN Ghana Foundation.
Out of the awardees, 300 students are pursuing courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), vocational programmes, and 200 teachers are pursuing degree courses in STEM programmes.
The uniqueness of this year’s MTN Bright Scholarship awards held on Wednesday, 28th October, 2026, at the Great Hall of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)It is that 14 of the awardees were selected from the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) community to ensure inclusivity.
Awardees in a group photograph with scholarship awards juries and MTN Ghana officials
A member of the jury, Prof. Daniella Delali Sedegah of the University of Environment and Sustainable Studies said they had very difficult tasks in selecting the 500 awardees. She, together with other jury members and parents, including MadamMercy Nuamah, a labour in water supply; Madam Esther Yeboah, a semestress; Mr Fred Kwadwo Andrews, a mason; Esther Quaye, a guardian; and some lecturers from the various universities commended MTN Ghana for its great contribution to the provision of education to brilliant but needy students under its scheme dubbed “Bright Scholarship Awards – Honouring Students’ Excellence through Scholarships”.
Mr.Robert Kuzoe,MTN Ghana Foundation Senior Manager marking a symbolic presentation to one the awardees
The stakeholders and beneficiaries of the scholarship were highly impressed by the transparency in the selection process, as well as the package involved, which consists of tuition, accommodation, stipends, and laptops to ease the financial burden of beneficiaries of Bright Scholarships.
Some scenes from the event
In an interview with journalists, Mr Robert Kuzoe, Senior Manager for MTN Ghana Foundation, revealed that the 500 scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year are made up of 300 students pursuing first degrees in STEM, vocational and technical training, and 200 teachers pursuing degrees in these fields. Giving more insights into MTN Ghana Bright scholarship awards, the senior manager said, ‘Behind every scholarship is a person with a dream and a family hoping to see it fulfilled.’
“Today, we celebrate what becomes possible when that dream gets a chance. Let me begin with one young Ghanaian’s story. After completing WASSCE, he spent a year at home. Not because he had given up on his education.
His family simply could not afford university fees. With support from the MTN Ghana Foundation, he went on to study at the University for Development Studies. He graduated with distinction, earning awards as the overall best male graduating student of the School of Pharmacy and best student in pharmacognosy and herbal medicine, he recounted. According to him, the talent was already his. So was the determination. The scholarship helped remove the financial barrier in his way.
That is why “we are here: to help ensure that financial hardship does not bring a promising education to an end. As MTN Ghana marks its 30th anniversary, stories like his bring us back to what matters: a young person able to continue, a family able to hope again. Ghanaians have made room for MTN in their lives for 30 years.”The MTN Ghana Foundation Senior Manager explained that each award covers tuition and accommodation and provides a laptop and a stipend. He disclosed that of 5,194 applications, they shortlisted 1,200 candidates for interviews and selected 500 recipients, including 14 persons with disabilities.Mr. Robert Kuzoe admitted that those applications remind them how much need remains. He said behind each is someone seeking a fair chance to move forward. “So, we celebrate today’s awards with pride and with a clear sense of the work still ahead.He was optimistic that 200 scholarships awarded to teachers would go a long way to help them deepen their knowledge in STEM, vocational, and technical education. Mr Kuzoe, therefore, urged the teachers who received the scholarship awards to get back to their classrooms.
“Make difficult concepts clearer. Connect lessons to practical problems. The value of your scholarship can reach every learner you teach. To our 300 student scholars, congratulations. Your hard work has brought you here. Your financial circumstances need not set the limits of your ambition. Ask questions. Seek guidance early. When a semester gets difficult, remember: a setback is not a verdict on your ability
“The MTN Ghana Foundation Senior Manager. encouraged the students to prepare not just to pass their examinations but to put their knowledge to work. “Think critically. Use technology thoughtfully. Act with integrity. Look for problems you can help solve. And when you can, help someone else take the next step.For MTN, education and connectivity belong together.
A network opens access. Skills and confidence help people turn that access into opportunity. Ghana’s digital future needs people who create and solve problems-not only people who consume technology. No scholarship programme can deliver that future alone. It takes educational institutions, families, and businesses working together. “MTN will continue to play its part,” he assured.
Besides, he announced that since Bright Scholarship awards began in 2018, 1,220 Bright Scholars have received awards. According to him, the beneficiaries’ achievements include 17 valedictorians or best students and 299 first-class graduates.
A further 47 graduated with second-class upper honours and 16 with second-class lower honours. Adding that this year alone, they celebrated eight valedictorians awardd winners. They earned those achievements.
“We (MTN Ghana Foundation) are proud to have supported them along the way.A number of beneficiaries, including Gibert Nyaaba Agongo of the University of Development Studies, among others who spoke to journalists after receiving their award packages, were very excited for the scholarship and promised to work hard to justify the investment the MTN Ghana Foundation and their parents/guardians had made in them.By:Isaac Amoah
