The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has received 60 laptop computers from SIC Insurance PLC to support students under the Vice-Chancellor's Support One Needy Student with One Laptop (SONSOL) Initiative.
Presenting the laptops, the Managing Director of SIC Insurance PLC, Mr. James Agyenim-Boateng, reaffirmed the company's commitment to corporate social responsibility and its longstanding partnership with KNUST.
He said the annual donation forms part of SIC Insurance's efforts to bridge the digital divide and support brilliant but needy students.
"As long as this partnership exists, we will continue to stand by this project. We are here to present 60 laptop computers to support what you do and to support our young brothers and sisters who come from very humble homes. We know what this intervention means to them," he said.
Mr. Agyenim-Boateng commended KNUST for its commitment to digital transformation and for ensuring that no deserving student is left behind because of financial constraints.
On behalf of the company's management, he also presented a farewell gift to the Vice-Chancellor as she prepares to conclude her tenure.
Receiving the donation, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, described SIC Insurance PLC as one of KNUST's most dependable corporate partners, whose consistent support has significantly advanced the University's mission of providing equitable access to quality education.
She said the University's mandate extends beyond training students for Ghana, noting that KNUST prepares graduates who contribute to national development across the world. She added that fulfilling this responsibility requires strong partnerships with organisations that share the University's vision.
"As a university, we cannot do this alone. We have always believed in working with collaborators who have consistently held our hands over the years, and SIC Insurance is so prominent on that list," she said.
Reflecting on the origins of the SONSOL Initiative, Professor Dickson recounted how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the digital challenges faced by many students when teaching shifted online.
"Our philosophy has always been to leave no student behind. Every year, SIC Insurance PLC has been here donating laptops to support needy students, and today's donation of 60 laptops continues that commitment," she said.
The Vice-Chancellor said beneficiaries of the SONSOL Initiative are selected through a rigorous screening process involving the University's colleges, faculties, schools and departments to ensure the laptops reach students with genuine financial need.
She said applications for assistance continue to increase each year, with many students sharing deeply moving personal stories that underscore the importance of the initiative.
As she prepares to conclude her tenure as Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dickson appealed to SIC Insurance PLC to sustain its support for the initiative under the University's incoming leadership.
"For the past six years, you have been wonderful partners. My one request is that this project should continue. Please don't let it end today. Continue to hold the hands of KNUST so that together we can support the dreams of these students," she appealed.
She also expressed appreciation for SIC Insurance's broader support to the University, particularly its provision of insurance services for the University's vehicles and other institutional needs.
The Vice-Chancellor further encouraged the company to explore future collaborations, including support for the University's ICT laboratories and digital learning facilities.
Story: Abigail Ofori
