By Yussif Ibrahim
Kumasi, Mar 8, GNA – The Francis Faki Amanquah Foundation (FFAF), an international Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO) has presented scholarship packages to six computer science and computer engineering students from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
It is the second time the Foundation is supporting students from KNUST having provided similar packages to five female students last year.
Mrs. Mercy Bruce-Amanquah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, speaking at a brief presentation ceremony at KNUST, said the vision of the Foundation was to increase access to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for Ghanaian women.
“We are here today to present scholarship awards comprising tuition, accommodation, stipends and laptops to six deserving young women studying computer science and computer engineering and this is to encourage them to chart a path to change the world with the skills they acquire here at KNUST having been selected based on their performances over the past year”, the CEO stated.
Giving a background to the establishment of the Foundatio, Mrs. Bruce-Amanquah said FFAF was set up in honour of her late husband, Mr Francis Faki Amanquah, an alumnus of KNUST who had an unbridled passion for education, especially that of girls and women.
She said research showed that 28 per cent of women occupied STEM workforce globally.
In Ghana, only 30 per cent of women are into STEM jobs because they do not role models in these fields to look up to, according to her.
She said apart from the financial assistance and laptops provided to the first and second cohorts, the Foundation would also assign mentors who will engage the beneficiaries and encourage them throughout their academic journey.
Professor David Asamoah, the Pro Vice-Chancellor at KNUST, addressing the FFAF Foundation members and the Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering thanked the NGO for the gesture.
He noted that noble enterprises such as what FFAF was engaged in contribute to achieving better outcomes in the education of students.
Prof Asamoah therefore charged the beneficiaries to give off their best so that the Foundation would still find it expedient to continue with the program it has with the International Programmes Office for others to also benefit from same.
Ms. Christabel Benewaah, a level 200 computer science student and beneficiary of the scholarship, thanked FFAF for the initiative which she was a game changer.
She said the support would undoubtedly encourage them to study hard and make their marks.
Ms. Isabel Naa Norkor Noye, another beneficiary, said the scholarship package had come at a time she needed it the most.
She therefore commended the Foundation for the gesture and promised to justify her selection by producing impressive grades.
Other beneficiaries of the intervention are Delali Mina Torgah, Khadija Ndaiya Kamil, Ikhlas Adeola Abdul-Sattar and Ampem Kobi Afriyie.
GNA