A sod has been cut for the construction of a GH¢9.7 million multipurpose Digital Students Resource Centre at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale.
The centre, expected to be completed within eight months, will house a 70-seater computer lab, robotics equipment, and video conferencing facilities, and provide access to the MTN Skills Academy platform. It will also run training programmes for secondary schools and the wider community to sustain its operations.
In addition, the facility will serve as a modern hub for digital learning, innovation, and social interaction, equipping students with skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and blockchain technology.
Funded by the MTN Ghana Foundation, with technical support from Coral Reef Innovation Hub, the facility is expected to benefit more than 30,000 students of UDS and other institutions in the Northern Region.
Innovation
At the sod-cutting ceremony last Saturday, the Principal of UDS Nyankpala Campus, Prof. Muhammed Muniru Iddrisu, described the project as a seed for the future.
“Today, we are not just here to break ground; we are here to plant a seed. A seed of innovation, a seed of opportunity, and a seed for the future of our students, our university, and indeed, our entire region,” he said.
Prof. Iddrisu explained that the idea, initially conceived in 2023 as a recreational facility, was transformed into a comprehensive digital resource centre following consultations with MTN Ghana Foundation.
He said the centre would also generate revenue for the university by offering training for students from other institutions and the wider community.
Transformation
The Dean of Students of UDS, Dr Umar Haruna, lauded MTN Ghana Foundation for funding the project, stressing that it would enable students to move beyond consuming information to becoming innovators.
He also paid tribute to his predecessor, Prof. Alhassan Musah, and the project team for laying the groundwork for the initiative.
“In October 2023, the Office of the Dean of Students submitted a proposal for a recreational centre. Through collaboration and refinement with MTN Foundation, that idea evolved into today’s project, a digital resource centre that will transform the UDS student experience,” he noted.
Youth empowerment
A Senior Manager of the MTN Ghana Foundation, Robert Kuzoe, said the gesture formed part of the organisation’s efforts to address youth unemployment and prepare the younger generation for the digital economy.
He said the facility was designed to blend academia and industry to foster innovation, job creation, and collaboration.
“In Ghana, 57 per cent of the population is under 25. While this is a great opportunity, youth unemployment remains a challenge, with a 2023 rate of 23.7%. This centre is part of the solution,” he emphasised.
