Master card foundation in Canada, in partnership with Ashesi University in Ghana, has announced it is offering scholarships to student in Africa to the tune of $13 million.
Ashesi officials were in The Gambia to talk to Gambian students about the scholarship opportunities, and about the university in Ghana.
Speaking to The Point at a sensitization session for prospective Gambian students and parents on how to benefit from the scholarship scheme, held at the Alliance Franco Banjul, Rosemary Kotei, International Programs Officer at the university, said the purpose of their visit was to talk about their university and present their scholarship opportunities to Gambian students.
She indicated that they offer courses in business administration, management information systems and computer science.
“The mission of our institution is to educate the new generation of leaders to transform Africa,” she told The Point.
According to her, MasterCard foundation has seen how good their students are and decided to offer US$13 million worth of scholarships for a ten-year period, so that they can reach more other students in Africa,” she explained.
Rosemary further told this reporter that the scholarship entails free education for four years in degree programs, accommodation, meal as well as pocket money for the whole four years, among others.
“The students don’t have to do any payment to Ashesi University or MasterCard. What they have to do is to learn hard and come back to their country to improve their country,” she stated.
She added that the criteria for application for is WASSCE A1-C6 including Maths, English and any other science subject; A Level, 3 pass (A-D) and six passes in IGCSE or any Diploma/ international baccalaureate.
Adso Ashie, dean of students at Ashesi University, said her university has over the last ten years groomed over 500 students at their state-of-the-art campus.
She said that six months after graduating, all their students get jobs as most companies including Google, Microsoft and Ecobank, among others, recruit students from the university.
Noting that during the first year, all students take a course on leadership qualities, Ashie said at Ashesi University, “we want students to take initiatives and start to think on their own”.
According to her, one aspect they emphasize on is ethics, adding that they trained the next generation of leaders who are ethical.
Isatou Cham, a former student at Ashesi University and now working with Unique Solutions, shared her experience with the audience.
Meanwhile, admission application and scholarship forms can be found at www.ashesi.edu.gh
