MTN Ghana awards 500 Bright Scholarships
The MTN Ghana Foundation has awarded 500 Bright Scholarships to brilliant but needy students and teachers across the country for the 2025/2026 academic year, reaffirming its commitment to education and sustainable national development.
This year’s package covers tuition, accommodation, stipends, and laptops for 300 students pursuing first degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and vocational training, as well as 200 teachers upgrading their skills at public universities.
The scheme attracted 3,691 applications, from which 1,200 were shortlisted, and 500 selected. The presentation ceremony, held at Wesley Towers in Accra on Tuesday, September 2, formed part of MTN’s broader corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Investment in the future
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, said the scholarship was not just about financial support but about “investing in dreams, unlocking potential, and securing the future of Ghana.”
He noted that since its relaunch in 2018, the Bright Scholarship had supported more than 720 students, in addition to over 1,000 who benefitted under the earlier scheme. Many alumni, he added, were now professionals in medicine, engineering, teaching, and business.
Mr Blewett urged the awardees to study diligently, dream boldly, and use their knowledge to uplift their communities. “Your achievements are proof that if you invest in education, you transform not only individual lives but entire communities,” he said.
He added that the Foundation would continue scaling up the initiative with the goal of reaching more students and teachers in the years ahead.
Commendation and appeal
The Director of Policy at the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Dr Emmanuel Newman, commended MTN Ghana for its consistent support of education through the scholarship programme.
He, however, appealed for the number of beneficiaries to be expanded to at least 1,600 annually, representing 100 students from each of the country’s 16 regions.
“These 1,600 scholarships would not make a dent in your finances. I believe you are capable of even doing 3,000. We also call on you to expand your farming initiatives in our secondary institutions to align with the government’s policy of promoting agriculture and nutrition,” he said.
Dr Newman also urged MTN to provide internship opportunities, research support, and increased allocations for PhD students.
Awardees urged to shine
He reminded the beneficiaries that their success was not only for themselves but for their families, communities, and the nation.
“Amongst you are the future entrepreneurs, billionaires, scientists, diplomats, CEOs, professors, doctors, and judges. The future is indeed bright. So shine brightly,” he told the gathering.
Background
The Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana, Adwoa Wiafe, explained that the Bright Scholarship was conceived to address the high dropout rate among first-year tertiary students due to financial hardship.
She said the initiative, launched in 2018, was a continuation of earlier MTN interventions that had already supported more than 1,000 students nationwide.
Mrs Wiafe said the Foundation’s vision was to nurture young people to pursue their dreams, overcome barriers, and contribute meaningfully to national development. She expressed optimism that the beneficiaries would graduate not just with certificates, but with the mindset and curiosity to tackle pressing national and continental challenges.
