Stephen Blewett, CEO of MTN Ghana and Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, acting General Manager, Sustainability and Shared Value.

Accra, November 4, 2026 –

 Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, has urged beneficiaries of the 2026 Bright Scholarship Programme to apply their knowledge and skills to solving societal problems and creating opportunities for others to progress.

He made the call as the MTN Ghana Foundation awarded its second batch of 500 Bright Scholarships to 300 academically talented university students and 200 teachers pursuing further studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), vocational and technical education.

The latest awards follow a similar batch of 500 scholarships presented in 2025, bringing the total number of beneficiaries under the programme to 1,000 over the past two years.

Dr Clement Abas Apaak, Deputy Minister of Education addressing the gathering at the MTN Bright Scholarship awards ceremony

The student beneficiaries will receive comprehensive support covering tuition, accommodation, laptops and stipends to facilitate their academic pursuits.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Mr Blewett urged them to recognise their talents as a foundation for future achievements and use their education to make meaningful contributions to society.

“Your talent belongs to you, scholars. That’s what got you here. So will the achievements that you will accomplish,” he said.

He encouraged the students to apply their knowledge to solving problems and helping others progress, while remaining focused, upholding integrity and using technology responsibly.

Mr Blewett also challenged the teacher beneficiaries to translate the knowledge and skills acquired through further training into improved teaching practices and better learning outcomes for their students.

The Bright Scholarship Programme supports students in public universities and teachers seeking to upgrade their professional competencies. More than 200 beneficiaries of previous scholarship cohorts have graduated with first-class honours, underscoring the programme’s contribution to academic excellence.

The scholarship jury urged the awardees to avoid social vices and take responsibility for their academic, emotional and social wellbeing.

“Please take care of yourselves holistically, academically, emotionally, socially. Be a complete awardee so that as you do well, we will be happy to celebrate you as well,” the jury advised.

Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Abas Apaak, commended MTN Ghana and its Foundation for complementing government efforts to expand access to quality and inclusive education.

He described the scholarships as an important investment in the country’s human capital development, noting that their impact extended beyond individual beneficiaries.

“Every scholarship awarded is not only to support one student. It is an investment in the workforce, the leadership and the development our nation needs for tomorrow,” he said.

For some beneficiaries, the scholarship represents a turning point following years of personal and financial difficulties.

Freeman Agbejenu, a Computer Science student specialising in cybersecurity at the Ghana Communications Technology University, recounted how a serious accident in 2020 disrupted his life but strengthened his determination to pursue his education and secure a better future for himself and his daughter.

“I didn’t choose this accident, but I have chosen not to give up on my future,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Salomey Eze, a Level 300 Health Services Administration student at the University of Health and Allied Sciences, said the scholarship came at a critical stage of her academic journey.

She disclosed that she had spent nine years saving towards university education while working as a private school teacher, making the scholarship a significant relief.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Nancy Brew, a Level 200 student at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), expressed gratitude to MTN Ghana for the support and pledged that the recipients would work hard to justify the investment.

“We assure MTN Ghana that we will do what is expected of us and make the company proud,” she said.

The Bright Scholarship Programme forms part of MTN Ghana’s corporate social responsibility commitments, which focus on health, education and economic empowerment.

Through the initiative, the MTN Ghana Foundation continues to support educational advancement, strengthen human capital development and create opportunities for academically talented students and teachers to contribute to Ghana’s development.

Some parents and guardians of the scholarship beneficiaries

A group picture with some of the scholarship beneficiaries