The MTN Ghana Foundation has launched the MTN Bright Scholarship Alumni Network to connect former scholarship beneficiaries and harness their skills and experiences to support youth development and national growth.
The network, launched as part of activities marking MTN Ghana’s 30th anniversary, brings together beneficiaries of the Foundation’s scholarship programme to share knowledge, create professional opportunities, mentor young people and undertake community development initiatives.
Madam Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, said the alumni network represented an opportunity for beneficiaries to transform the support they had received into broader impact for society.
She said MTN was proud of the achievements of its scholarship beneficiaries, who had gone on to pursue careers in engineering, education, technology, business and other professional fields.
“What you do with what you have been given is really up to you. We can give you the basis and the tools, but what you eventually become depends on how hard you work, the opportunities you take and how many opportunities you create,” she said.
Madam Wiafe urged the beneficiaries to extend the same support and belief they had received to other young people who needed opportunities to develop their potential.
She said the Foundation would continue to expand its interventions to reach more young people, stressing that businesses had a responsibility to create shared value by considering the needs of communities and the environment in addition to commercial objectives.
She noted that MTN Ghana Foundation had committed to providing 1,500 scholarships over three years, with 500 awards being made this year.
The scholarships, she said, formed part of the Foundation’s broader investment in education and youth development.
Madam Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, said the network was created to ensure that scholarship beneficiaries remained connected and continued to support one another after completing their education.
She said the Foundation had supported more than 1,200 scholarship beneficiaries over the years, providing assistance including tuition, laptops, stipends and accommodation.
“Today what we want to do is to bring all these scholarship beneficiaries together to form a network that we call the MTN Bright Scholars Network,” she said.
She said the network would enable members to share ideas, promote knowledge, exchange information on employment opportunities, mentor young people and undertake development projects.
The Foundation, she added, would work with the alumni to develop programmes aimed at strengthening their skills, enriching their knowledge and supporting community development.
The newly constituted executives of the alumni network were also inducted into office, with Ms Fiagbenu urging them to prioritise the interests of members and promote unity within the association.
She encouraged the leaders to listen to members, conduct research and develop programmes that responded to their needs.
“They are supposed to keep the unity, keep them together, steer them in the right direction and develop programmes,” she said.
Ms Fiagbenu also urged young people to take advantage of the MTN Skills Academy, a free online platform offering courses in areas including cybersecurity, data science and other technology-related fields.
She encouraged the youth to use technology not only for entertainment but also as a tool for acquiring knowledge and developing skills.
“Instead of just browsing and chatting, spend an hour or two every day and learn a skill,” she advised.
Ms Mavis Esando, a beneficiary of the 2019 MTN Bright Scholarship, said the scholarship had been instrumental in helping her complete her studies and prepare for professional life.
Ms Esando, now a civil engineer, expressed gratitude to MTN Ghana Foundation for believing in her potential and providing the support she needed to pursue her education.
She pledged to use her experience and knowledge to contribute to the development of the MTN Bright Scholars Alumni Network and encourage future beneficiaries to pursue their ambitions.
She urged young scholarship beneficiaries to remain determined despite challenges, saying perseverance was essential to achieving their dreams.
The launch marked another phase in MTN Ghana Foundation’s education interventions, with the alumni network expected to convert the experiences and skills of beneficiaries into mentorship, professional networking and community development opportunities.
