The Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) Foundation has awarded Gh¢9,000 worth of scholarship each to 134 students of the University of Ghana for the 2017/2018 academic year. The scholarship scheme, which covers tuition, living expenses, book allowance, and dissertation or project allowance, is the largest support offered by a sole organization, benefiting 700 awardees of public tertiary institutions across the country. The ceremony was chaired by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Professor Samuel Kwame Offei.
In appreciation of the award, Professor Offei lauded the scholarship scheme as the largest in the country and commended GNPC for the opportunity given to the students to aspire and to realise their dreams. He exhorted the students to work hard and make themselves worthy of the scholarship throughout their four-year study at the University.
Professor Samuel Kwame Offei
Dr. Patrick Ofori, the Manager in charge of Education and Training at the GNPC Foundation, spoke extensively on the range of benefits awardees are entitled to. Apart from career support systems available to scholars during the second and third years, there are schemes of mock interviews designed to prepare students for further academic or career opportunities. Dr. Ofori cautioned the awardees to be meticulous and honest with the information used to process various documents, and to seek clarification where necessary.
Although the scholarship could run for the four year period of study, awardees are annually expected to meet certain standards of performance set by the GNPC Foundation.
Dr. Kwame Baah Nuakoh, the Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation, reminisced about his days as the secretary of the Legon Hall JCR from 1995 to 1997 and the subsequent opportunity to study at Harvard University on scholarship. He encouraged the awardees to develop the self-discipline that comes with focusing on their education, and complying with the regulations of the University of Ghana and the code of conduct spelt out by GNPC. According to Dr. Nuakoh, the GNPC Foundation is spending over Gh¢1.2million on students of the University of Ghana to enable them focus on their studies.
Dr. Kwame Baah Nuakoh
On behalf of the awardees, Mr. Daniel Otting Awuah, the President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), thanked the GNPC Foundation for the award and appealed to the Foundation to accord the University of Ghana priority consideration.
Mr. Ebenezer Amoakohene Bonsra, the Economic Empowerment Officer of the GNPC Foundation, took his turn to congratulate the awardees and educated them on the code of conduct as set by the foundation.
Professor Francis Nunoo, the Dean of Students Affairs, congratulated the awardees and admonished them to put in their maximum effort in their studies. He further expressed profound appreciation to the foundation for the benefit accorded students of the university.
The GNPC Foundation Scholarship Award is part of GNPC’s Corporate Social Investment, which is geared towards education, especially in areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The ceremony was hosted by Mrs. Christine Baning, the Head of the Students Financial Aid Office.
Please click here to view the video of the event
