The Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, in collaboration with its partners, has presented a total of Five Hundred and Four (504) brand new laptops valued at Three Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Four Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 3,864,000.00) to students who demonstrate exceptional academic abilities but lack the necessary resources on 23rd June 2023 at the Great Hall, KNUST.
The presentation was in line with the Vice-Chancellor's vision of ‘Supporting One Needy Student with One Laptop,’ known as the 'SONSOL' Project.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson indicated that the SONSOL initiative, launched in 2021, has so far distributed One Thousand, Nine Hundred and One (1,901) laptops to deserving students. ‘With the invaluable support of donors, this initiative has significantly impacted the educational experience by providing technological resources to brilliant but needy students of the University,’ she noted. Giving an overview of the SONSOL Project, she noted that in 2021, Six Hundred and Four (604) laptops worth Three Million and Twenty Thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢ 3,020,000) were distributed. With the support of donors, a total of Seven Hundred and Ninety-Three (793) laptops amounting to Three Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢ 3,965,000) were also given out in 2022.
This year, despite the prevailing economic challenges, the initiative distributed 504 laptops to brilliant but needy students of the University.
On behalf of Management, Professor (Mrs.) Akosua Dickson expressed her appreciation to the donors for their instrumental roles in the success of the SONSOL Project. They include Stanbic Bank Ghana PLC, Andysarp Furniture, Multinec, Ecobank Ghana, Fairgreen Limited, Google Inc, Ultimate Fashions, Mrs. Bernice Asamoah, Mr. Isaac Owusu, CEO of Isaac Books and Stationery, Hon. Dr. Stephen Amoah, Kingdom Books, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, CEO of FDA, Mr. Kofi Addo-Agyekum, CEO of Kofikrom Pharmacy, KNUST Students' Representatives Council (SRC), and GRASAG KNUST.
The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry and Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso Constituency, Honourable Dr. Stephen Amoah, highlighted the principal significance of education, asserting that any society lacking support for education is destined to fail. He stated that education forms the foundation of personal and societal progress, underscoring the need to acquire knowledge and skills. Furthermore, he advocated for the prioritisation of education, urging both the current and future governments of Ghana to place it at the forefront of their agendas. His belief is that by fostering a highly educated society, instances of societal malpractices can be significantly mitigated.
Some of the donors, Ecobank, Ultimate Fashions, Stanbic Bank, Kingdom Books and Stationery, and ING Nana Poku-Agyeman conveyed messages of solidarity and affirmed their unwavering dedication to supporting the vision of the Vice-Chancellor.
On behalf of the students, the President of the KNUST Students' Representatives Council (SRC), Mr. Frank Owusu, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and the generous donors. The President pledged on behalf of the beneficiaries to effectively utilise the donated laptops for their designated purposes and encouraged the recipients to make the most of them.
