The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has reaffirmed its commitment to equitable access to education through the Vice-Chancellor's Support One Needy Student with One Laptop (SONSOL) initiative, which has provided more than 4,000 laptops to financially disadvantaged students since its inception in 2021.
At the 2026 SONSOL Award Ceremony held at the Great Hall, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Asamoah, delivered a speech on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, highlighting the initiative's impact on students' academic journeys and digital inclusion.
The Vice-Chancellor said what began as an intervention to address an urgent need had evolved into a major pillar of support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
"What started as a desperate plea to our stakeholders to help bridge the digital divide has grown into a monumental pillar of equity on this campus. In our maiden edition in 2021, we handed over 593 brand-new laptops. The following year, we distributed 793 laptops. Through the unyielding kindness of our partners, our cumulative distributions over the past five years have proudly surpassed 4,000 laptops," Professor Dickson stated.
She said access to digital tools has become increasingly important in an era of rapid technological advancement and artificial intelligence (AI), noting that laptops are indispensable for students pursuing research, software development, data analytics and other technology-driven fields.
"The laptops we are distributing today are not mere typing tools. They are portals into the global digital economy. They are the instruments through which our students will master machine learning, software engineering, and digital entrepreneurship," she stressed.
Professor Dickson also expressed appreciation to the University's corporate partners, alumni and stakeholders, including Stanbic Bank Ghana, Ecobank, Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), Telecel Ghana, Absa Bank Ghana, the KNUST SRC and GRASAG, for their continued support of the initiative.
While celebrating the programme's achievements, she appealed to corporate organisations, financial institutions, philanthropists and alumni to increase their support to help meet the growing demand for laptops among needy students.
"No contribution is too small. One laptop can permanently alter the trajectory of an entire family, and collectively, we can ensure that digital poverty becomes a thing of the past at KNUST," she added.
Delivering a solidarity message, Mr. Anthony Asare, Regional Manager of Stanbic Bank Ghana, reaffirmed the bank's commitment to supporting educational initiatives that empower students and contribute to national development.
He said every laptop distributed under the programme represented an opportunity for students to overcome barriers and realise their academic potential
"Our hope was simple: that no student at KNUST would have their academic potential limited because they lacked access to the tools modern learning demands," he said.
Mr. Asare assured KNUST management of the bank's commitment to continue supporting the initiative and encouraged beneficiaries to view the laptops as investments in their future.
"We do not see this as charity. We see it as partnership. We believe in your potential, and we trust you to make the most of this opportunity," Mr. Asare stated.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Vera Morgan described the SONSOL initiative as a life-changing intervention that continues to restore hope and create opportunities for students facing financial difficulties.
"We are gathered not only to receive laptops, but also to celebrate an initiative that is transforming lives, restoring hope and making academic success more achievable for students in need," she said.
Miss Morgan thanked the Vice-Chancellor for establishing and sustaining the initiative, saying quality education extends beyond admission to providing students with the resources needed to succeed.
She noted that laptops have become indispensable for accessing lecture materials, conducting research, completing assignments, participating in online learning and acquiring digital skills.
"For such students, the SONSOL Project is more than a laptop support programme. It is an opportunity and a source of encouragement. It is a reminder that their financial circumstances should not prevent them from achieving their academic dreams," she stated.
She also thanked the donor institutions and partners for investing in students' futures through their generous support.
Miss Morgan urged fellow beneficiaries to use the laptops responsibly and remain committed to academic excellence.
"We must use these laptops for the purpose for which they have been given. We must take proper care of them, remain committed to our studies and demonstrate through our academic performance and personal conduct that the confidence placed in us was not misplaced," she said.
