April 1st, 2010:
As part of its commitment to support the provision of quality education to the needy youth in Ghana, the Guaranty Trust Bank has made a considerable financial contribution to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The Cash donation of GH 20,000 to the KNUST Needy Students Fund is a demonstration of the Bank’s remarkable corporate social responsibility to society as well as its commitment to the provision of equal opportunities for all those who desire to achieve academic excellence even when facing financial constraints.
The Managing Director of the bank, Dolapo Ogundimu, said his organization was touched by a story that appeared in a section of the press that some students had to cut short their tertiary education and also forfeit their placements because they genuinely could no longer find their way through their educational programmes due to the lack of funds.
Mr. Ogundimu said “as a responsible social organization we were moved to soften the hardship that some brilliant but needy students may be facing, and this gesture is part of our vision to reach out to students who possess the intellectual capacity but lack the financial strength to realize their dreams and aspirations.
Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim the chairman of GT Bank stated “it is our belief that education forms the bedrock for national development and over the years our operations in Ghana has demonstrated our support for the educational sector. He promised that the bank will continue to partner with the university in providing quality education for all irrespective of their social and financial status.
Moreover, he was hopeful that the gesture would further deepen the relationship that the Bank has forged with KNUST. He added that the bank presently manages the accounts of over 1,500 students, and that, banking services have been made convenient for student clients. He said in the coming months, they envisage establishing their presence on campus to increase their customers easy access to excellent convenient banking services by providing a 24hour visa-enabled ATM.
Prof. K. K. Adarkwa, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, noted that the donation of GH20,000 was so far the highest contribution to the fund. He expressed his sincere gratitude for the banks generosity and thoughtfulness and called for more support from other stakeholders.
He noted that apart from internally generated funds by the university to support such students, the university had also introduced a work study programme to help students earn some income towards the payment of their fees.