Accra, Feb.12, GNA – The Vodafone Ghana Foundation in conjunction with Vodafone Business Unit has donated 200 new laptops to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to aid in teaching and learning.
The donation formed part of a number of philanthropic activities designed to kick-off the Foundation’s new staff volunteering initiative dubbed ‘Kindred Month’ which takes place throughout the month of February.
A statement from Vodafone Ghana, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the donation also underscored Vodafone Ghana‘s dedication to the development of science and technology across the country through innovative interventions and partnerships that also bolster government’s national digitalisation agenda.
Speaking at the handing-over ceremony, Madam Tawa Bolarin, the Vodafone Business Director, said the donation sought to democratise access to critical learning tools in an increasingly digital world thereby empowering students to achieve excellence.
She reiterated that it had become imperative amid the on-raging COVID-19 pandemic, which had necessitated that institutions of learning rethought and restructured their approach to tuition with an emphasis on virtual or contactless class sessions powered by digital platforms.
“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the reality that in this era, technology has now become an inextricable part of our daily existence and a critical facilitator of progress and success across all sectors and disciplines including education.
In embracing this new normal, however, it is absolutely imperative that we ensure equity of access to the basic digital tools and enablers that would ensure that nobody is left out in the quest for pursuing progress and excellence,” she noted.
Mr Amaris Nana A. Perbi, the Head of Vodafone Ghana Foundation, reiterated that the Foundation remained steadfast and consistent in working towards its goal of digitally connecting communities, leaving no one behind.
“Vodafone Ghana Foundation in driving the CSR agenda of Vodafone Ghana will remain committed to dedicating our resources to support communities and create avenues to address key socio-economic concerns of the communities in which we operate. Under ‘Digital Education’, the Foundation has sustainable and innovative projects which students can take advantage of.
The projects include; Instant Schools, National Coding Programme and ICT Hubs.
Mr Perbi, reiterating the Vodafone Foundation’s Kindred Month initiative; said it was a staff-led community volunteering drive which would see staff of Vodafone Ghana engage in a plethora of CSR activities throughout the month of February.
Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, who received the items on behalf of the school expressed gratitude to Vodafone Ghana Foundation and Vodafone Business for the kind gesture, the statement said.
She noted that the intervention was timely as it had come at a time that the university had taken the bold decision to blend physical class sessions with virtual ones in order to circumnavigate the continued threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said: “Indeed the mandate of churning out the nation’s new generation of brains cannot be attained without committed partners. Vodafone has over the years proven to be the ideal partner in this pursuit; from your provision of an optimized fibre network accessible to all students, specially designed student data bundle offers to facilitate teaching and learning.”
Prof Dickson said the magnanimous donation would enable the needy students to fully participate in the increasing virtual class sessions, adding: “Wow! All I can say is God bless you and continue to give you the wherewithal to support education in Ghana.”
GNA