For Ali Tuweh, a final-year Business Administration student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), access to a laptop through the Vice-Chancellor's One Student, One Laptop (SONSOL) initiative has played a key role in his academic success, helping him improve from a Second Class Upper standing to First Class.
Ali, a beneficiary of the initiative, credits the laptop with expanding his access to learning materials, research resources and digital tools that have supported his academic journey.
"I was in Second Class Upper, but because of the laptop, I'm able to access all the learning materials. Currently, I'm in First Class," he said.
Beyond improving his grades, the laptop has become an essential part of his four-year university experience. He now uses it to undertake his final-year research project, access lecture materials, conduct research and complete assignments.
The device has also enabled him to acquire essential digital skills. Through regular use, Ali has become proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, while gaining confidence in using online learning platforms and submitting assignments electronically.
Reflecting on the initiative's impact, he said he could hardly imagine completing his university education without the laptop.
"I can't imagine how I would have gone through my four-year journey at KNUST without the laptop," he said.
Ali's experience illustrates how the SONSOL initiative extends beyond providing students with digital devices. By equipping beneficiaries with tools for learning, research and digital skills development, the programme is helping improve academic performance while preparing students for opportunities beyond the classroom.
His story demonstrates how a single laptop can become more than a learning device; it can be a catalyst for academic excellence, digital empowerment and future success.
The SONSOL initiative was launched in late 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted teaching and learning. As universities shifted to virtual instruction, KNUST Vice-Chancellor Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson envisioned a university where no student would be left behind because of limited access to digital learning tools.
That vision led to the creation of the One Student, One Laptop (SONSOL) initiative, with support from benefactors. Since then, the programme has provided thousands of students with laptops, enabling them to pursue their academic goals while developing essential digital skills.
Story: Eunice Odumaa Asare
