A delegation from Access Bank Ghana has visited Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) to discuss possible areas of collaboration and strengthen ties with the university.
Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, Ms. Pearl Nkrumah, said the visit formed part of the bank’s efforts to deepen its relationship with KNUST.
“You can’t be in the Ashanti Region and not be in KNUST. It was one of the key places we wanted to visit to strengthen and grow our relationship,” she said.
She said Access Bank is committed to supporting entrepreneurship and youth development, adding that the bank’s vision aligns with KNUST’s goal of training innovators and future employers, not only job seekers.
“Our key focus is developing entrepreneurship, and since KNUST is focused on producing the next employers as well as job seekers, we wanted to align our vision with that of the University,” she stated.
Ms. Nkrumah said the bank is interested in supporting educational infrastructure and student-centred initiatives, including entrepreneurship and innovation hubs, youth banking services and digital payment systems to promote a cashless campus environment. She also indicated the bank’s readiness to support academic projects such as staff housing schemes, mortgage facilities for lecturers and internship opportunities for students.
Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, welcomed the engagement and described it as timely and beneficial.
She acknowledged accommodation challenges facing both students and staff and expressed optimism about the bank’s proposed support for housing and mortgage initiatives. She also encouraged the bank to engage stakeholders within the university community to introduce its financial products and services.
“As for accommodation, it continues to be a problem not just for students but also for staff. So, I’m glad that you are looking at it from a two-pronged approach,” she said.
The Finance Officer, Dr. Charles Nsiah, encouraged Access Bank to establish a stronger presence on campus and actively participate in university programmes and student activities.
He said increased visibility and sponsorship of university initiatives would help the bank strengthen its relationship with students and staff while building long-term customer loyalty.
“This is a very ready market for you. If you are on campus and get involved in student activities and some of the programmes we organise, it will help you become more visible,” he noted.
Dr. Nsiah further appealed to the bank to support the university’s Support One Needy Student with One Laptop (SONSOL) Project, which seeks to improve students’ access to digital learning tools.
