The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST has officially launched its 10th-anniversary celebrations under the theme "Celebrating a Decade of Transformation and Impacting Lives."

The event marked the commencement of a year-long commemoration and featured the unveiling of the anniversary emblem.

Professor Kofi Owusu-Daaku, Coordinating Lead of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST, recounted the program's journey from conception to its current continental influence.

"What began as an idea thirteen years ago has now grown into a transformative global initiative, shaping lives across Africa," he said.

He highlighted the program’s expansion into key initiatives, including the E-learning platform and the Africa Health Collaborative.

Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice Chancellor of KNUST, reflected on the program’s evolution, describing it as a "beautiful impact journey."

"Today, we celebrate a decade of empowering young people to become ethical, transformative leaders dedicated to driving change in their communities," she said.

Since its inception, the program has awarded 2,188 scholarships, with 62.2% going to female students, 6.2% to youth living with disabilities, and 3.11% to refugees and displaced individuals. Additionally, 85% of beneficiaries are Ghanaians, while 15% are international students.

"We take immense pride in nurturing not only outstanding scholars but also innovative entrepreneurs tackling pressing societal challenges," Professor Dickson added.

The anniversary celebrations will include a series of events throughout the year, showcasing the program’s achievements and its vision for the next decade of transformative education.