The Stanbic Bank, as part of its corporate social responsibilities, has donated 50 laptops to the “One Student, One Laptop” project initiated by Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, the Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), to support needy but brilliant students at the university.
Mr. Kojo Aki Larbi, Manager, Communications at the Stanbic Bank explained that the gesture is a response to the Vice Chancellor’s initiative and project to support the needy but brilliant students from 2020.
According to him, the bank has donated about 200 laptops over the past three years, in addition to the 50, to sustain the tradition.
He said they want to be a responsible corporate organisation because education is key to leveraging lives.
Mr. Richard Kwabena Asare, Head of Public Sector Banking, in charge of educational institutions, hospitals and other businesses of the bank, said they decided to bring the additional 50 because they believe what they presented was far reaching and would continue with the focus on women and girls in Science, Technology and Engineering and ensure that about 75% of their laptops go to the women and girls.
He disclosed that the bank has a women group called Dream Chasers to mentor the beneficiaries and to give them the opportunity to have their internship with the bank and have women in leadership, who would encourage the ladies to actually chase their dreams.
Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, the University Public Relations, commended Stanbic Bank for supporting the Vice Chancellor’s project to ensure that needy but brilliant students can have access to laptops to enhance their studies.
He disclosed that the Vice Chancellor initiated the project upon assumption of office in 2020, when the Corona virus pandemic (COVID-19) broke out, necessitating that about 75% of studies and lectures were done online, but most of the students could not afford the laptop.
He disclosed that when the initiative was open for applications, about 8,000 students applied, the school was able to give to about 3,000 students and are appealing to individuals and corporate organisations to support the project.
