The MTN Ghana Foundation has officially launched the MTN Bright Scholars Network, an initiative designed to harness the potential of more than 1,200 scholarship beneficiaries and position them to contribute meaningfully to the country’s socio-economic development.
Unveiled as part of activities marking MTN Ghana’s 30th anniversary, the network brings together current and former beneficiaries of the MTN Bright Scholarship program under a structured platform.
The initiative aims to facilitate mentorship, professional networking, career development, skills acquisition, and community service.
The platform will enable beneficiaries to share knowledge and employment opportunities, mentor younger scholars, and undertake development projects in their communities.
Investing in Ghana’s Human Capital
Speaking on behalf of MTN Ghana Chief Executive Officer Stephen Blewett at the launch ceremony in Accra , Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer Adwoa Wiafe emphasized that the Network underscores the Foundation’s commitment to developing Ghana’s human capital and expanding opportunities for talented young people.
She noted that MTN’s corporate sustainability agenda remains anchored on creating opportunities and improving lives, stressing that the company’s success is closely linked to the well-being of the communities in which it operates.
“As a business, we can only thrive if the people around us thrive. We cannot work in a silo, forgetting about our community, forgetting about the environment, forgetting about the things that help us as a business to grow and to create value,” Ms. Wiafe said.
She added that inclusion remains a central pillar of the Foundation’s interventions, with deliberate efforts to provide opportunities for women, persons with disabilities, and other groups who might otherwise be excluded.
According to her, the network takes the Bright Scholarship program beyond financial assistance by creating a dedicated support system for beneficiaries throughout their academic and professional journeys.
Bridging the Mentorship and Career Opportunity Gap
Addressing the career opportunity gap, Ms. Wiafe identified limited access to professional networks, mentorship, and career opportunities as critical challenges confronting young graduates.
She observed that while some graduates enter the labor market with established family and professional networks capable of opening doors, many scholarship beneficiaries do not share that advantage.
“An alumni association is how you build your own,” she said, urging scholars to use the network to create opportunities for themselves and their peers.
She encouraged members to mentor younger scholars, review CVs, prepare graduates for job interviews, share vacancies, and provide practical career guidance. Ms. Wiafe also challenged members to uphold the values of integrity, collaboration, respect, and inclusion as they build the network.
1,222 Students Supported, 299 Graduate With First-Class Honours
Since its introduction in 2017, the MTN Bright Scholarship program has supported 1,222 students in pursuing tertiary education.
Of the beneficiaries, 299 have graduated with first-class honors, while several others have recorded strong academic performances and progressed into various careers.
Ms. Wiafe said the results demonstrated what can be achieved when talented young people are given the resources and opportunities required to succeed.
She noted that the impact extends beyond individual beneficiaries, as their achievements can inspire siblings, relatives, and other young people within their communities to pursue higher education, generating a ripple effect across families and society.
Employers Urged to Open Doors to Scholars
Ms. Wiafe also appealed to employers and partner organizations to provide career opportunities for beneficiaries of the MTN Bright Scholarship program.
She said many scholars achieved impressive academic results despite difficult circumstances and deserve opportunities to demonstrate their abilities in the workplace.
She urged employers to engage the graduates and consider them for employment when vacancies arise, warning that Ghana risks losing valuable talent when capable young people are unable to realize their potential because of financial constraints.
Young people with the potential to become engineers, nurses, teachers, and other professionals should not have their ambitions cut short solely because of financial limitations.
MTN Commits to 1,500 Scholarships
Reaffirming the Foundation’s long-term vision, Ms. Wiafe announced a commitment to provide 1,500 additional scholarships over three years.
Of that number, 500 scholarships are being offered this year, featuring targeted support for teachers seeking to upgrade their qualifications. Investing in a single teacher, she noted, has a multiplier effect that can ultimately benefit hundreds of children.
“MTN is not stepping back. We are not stepping back,” Ms. Wiafe said, reaffirming the Foundation’s determination to continue creating opportunities for people who might otherwise be unable to access tertiary education.
She urged beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunities provided and extend similar support to others through mentorship and community service.
Impact Must Go Beyond Financial Support
Echoing this sentiment, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, said the Bright Scholars Network was established to ensure the Foundation’s investments generate impact far beyond direct financial assistance.
She explained that while the Foundation has historically provided comprehensive support covering tuition fees, laptops, stipends, and hostel fees the new platform ensures beneficiaries remain connected.
“For the past few years, we have more than 1,200 people that MTN Ghana Foundation has supported. We pay their fees, give them laptops, give them stipends and also pay for their hostel fees,” Ms. Asare Fiagbenu said. She added that the network will allow members to exchange ideas, share employment opportunities, and undertake local development projects.
Ms. Asare Fiagbenu challenged the newly inaugurated executives to prioritize members’ professional and personal development needs through consultative leadership.
“If you are a leader, it doesn’t mean that you will just be going and people will be following you. You also have to bring them together, listen to them and work together with them,” she advised.
Furthermore, she urged young Ghanaians to leverage digital learning tools, such as the MTN Skills Academy, to acquire market-relevant skills in emerging fields like cybersecurity and data science.
“Instead of just browsing and chatting, just go there, spend an hour or two every day and learn a skill,” she advised, stressing that mobile phones should be used as tools for capacity building and livelihood improvement rather than sole entertainment.
Alumni Leadership Pledges Action
Accepting the leadership mantle, Dr. Anita Payne, President of the MTN Bright Scholarship Alumni Network, pledged to build a connected and supportive alumni community rooted in a culture of giving back.
Describing the launch as an important milestone coinciding with MTN’s 30th anniversary, she expressed appreciation to members for their trust and commended MTN for creating the platform.
“On behalf of the entire executive team, I sincerely thank all the Scholars Alumni who voted for us, supported us, and believed in us. Your trust in us is a great honor, and we accept this responsibility with humility and commitment,” Dr. Payne said.
She emphasized that the network’s long-term success will rely on the active participation of all members. “This association belongs to all of us.
Its success will depend not only on the executives, but on the participation, ideas, and support of every member,” she stated, urging alumni to contribute their expertise and professional networks toward building a sustainable body capable of creating lasting opportunities.
Scholars Share Personal Stories of Transformation
The real-world impact of the scholarship was demonstrated through personal accounts from beneficiaries who shared how the program transformed their lives beyond financial support:
Mavis Essandoh (Site Engineer, Ghana ICT Hub Project): A former recipient who trained as a civil engineer, Essandoh currently works on the landmark Ghana ICT Hub project.
She noted that removing financial burdens provided the motivation and stability required to excel academically and achieve her career goals reflecting the program’s mission to equip talented youth with skills for productive careers.
Prince Elikem Nukafu (Teacher, SDA Senior High School, Gomoa Jukwa
For Nukafu, the scholarship was the key to overcoming social stigma and physical hurdles. Driven to break through systemic discrimination facing persons with disabilities in Ghana, he recalled early university days marked by social isolation.
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Securing funding in his first year transformed his trajectory, allowing him to focus entirely on his studies. As his academic performance soared, campus perceptions shifted, with classmates actively seeking his academic guidance.
Now an educator, Nukafu uses his platform to advocate for persons with disabilities, aiming to launch community outreach initiatives that provide practical skills, independence, and dignity to marginalized youth.
The newly established MTN Bright Scholars Network aims to build on these individual success stories, transforming the Foundation’s educational investments into an enduring national ecosystem for mentorship, professional networking, and broad socio-economic development.
