Ecobank Ghana has donated a final batch of one hundred laptop computers to the University of Ghana as part of efforts to support the university’s ‘One Student, One Laptop’ Initiative.
The donation is also in fulfillment of a three year old pledge by the bank to support the University with 300 laptops over a three year period to enhance the digital literacy of students.
Presenting the laptops on Wednesday, April 1, the Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, Mrs. Abena Osei-Poku, stated that the bank believes that “access to digital tools is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity, especially for students preparing for the world of work.”
She stated further, that “education enabled by technology, remains one of the strongest drivers of national and continental development.”
Mrs. Osei-Poku expressed her hope that the donation of the final batch of laptops will have the same positive impact in the lives of the beneficiaries, as the first 200 did, “by ensuring that more students are empowered to pursue their academic goals with confidence and dignity.”
She promised the bank’s continued support for the the university community even after the delivery on their laptop pledge.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo commended Ecobank Ghana for honouring its commitment to the institution.
She indicated that the ‘One Student, One Laptop’ Initiative had been borne from the University’s COVID period experience, where students needed laptops and other digital devices to go through their academic work.
Despite concerted effort from university authorities, they were unable to get all students to participate in their academic work at that time,
The Vice-Chancellor stressed that no matter what a student studies, “When you are leaving the University of Ghana, you must leave as a digitally savvy graduate. Whatever ambitions that you have, you definitely need to know your way around the computer, and the best way to have this done, is to have your own device, then you are able to explore and make the best out of that opportunity.”
As part of the University’s effort to enhance the digital skills of students, Prof. Amfo indicated that the University authorities have upgraded the school’s computer laboratory.
She was hopeful that following the delivery on the promise of 300 laptops, more opportunities will arise for greater collaboration between the two institutions.
The Chairman of the ‘One Student, One Laptop’ Committee, Professor Peter Quartey, explained that the initiative has two components, which are the one student, one laptop, as well as the establishment of an assembly plant, where laptops will be assembled and sold to students who do not qualify for the free laptops, at a discounted price.
He noted that by fulfilling their promise of delivering 300 laptops to the University, Ecobank has donated about 30% of all 996 laptops received so far under the initative.
The school, he said, has given out about 625 of these devices.
