"The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord made them both" goes the Biblical saying in Proverbs 22:2 that emphasizes equality of God's creation of mankind.

But how conscious has humanity been to this declaration when man's own actions enrich some of its fellows and impoverish others? 

A look around you reveal the sore inequality that Ghana, like many African countries has been battling for decades. 

Focusing on education, many brilliant children have dropped out of school owing to lack of funding, something the wealthy few can help reduce if they intervened sustainability.

One person striving to share his little and bring love to brilliant needy students is Mr Emmanuel Asiedu-Sekyere, a native of Mpraeso-Kwahu in the Eastern Region. Mr Asiedu-Sekyere, the founder and CEO of Virtual Infosec Africa and Virtual Security Africa, is an entrepreneur who has devoted himself to helping many brilliant needy individuals in Ghana and elsewhere.

Though not one of Ghana's wealthiest entrepreneurs, the CEO of Virtual InfoSec Africa Limited is investing a lot to help give children an equal opportunity to education and life.

Education infrastructure

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of one of Africa's celebrated firms recently donated a cybersecurity laboratories; fully equipped with computers and other necessities to the  Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Presbyterian University Ghana to enhance student learning and realise the schools’ visions to provide cutting-edge education, technology and research in cybersecurity.

The company will also commission another state-of-the art cybersecurity laboratory for the University of Ghana in the first quarter of 2025.

Little gem of Kwadwo Nkansa

But what has touched many hearts is the extension of Mr Asiedu-Sekyere’s benevolence to a brilliant-needy teenager, Samuel Naawinoong Noakwa in Kwadwo Nkansa, a deprived community in the Eastern Region.

The little gem scored seven 'As' and a B in the 2024 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) but was unable to afford fees for tertiary education, due to the parents deprived nature. 

Luck, however located Mr Noakwa when his Pastor traveled from Nkwakaw to Accra and pointed him and his stellar results to Mr Asiedu-Sekyere’s office, leading to the award of a fully-paid scholarship for the Kwadwo Nkansa native to study a four-year Bachelor’s degree in Information Communication Technology in the Presbyterian University.

"I was touched by his plight but inspired by his results when I heard the story," the founder and CEO of Virtual InfoSec Africa said. 

"If a boy can make those stellar grades in spite of the harsh conditions he found himself in, then he can be a gem if given the right support and guidance," he said.

Consequently, Mr Asiedu-Sekyere said he quickly authorised funding for a full scholarship to Mr Noakwa, leading to his enrolment in the university.

The youngster’s scholarship adds to hundreds of people whose dreams have been brightened by Mr Asiedu- Sekyere in his push to be the light to as many people as possible.

"For me, I will always be grateful to the Lord for giving me the privilege to have and be able to help and I see it as a rare blessing to be able to support others," he said.

"I want to help as many brilliant needy children as possible to realise their goals and get a brighter future," he said.

Need for more  Asiedu-Sekyeres

The Vice Chancellor of the Presbyterian University, Ghana, Prof. John Ofosu-Anim said Mr Asiedu-Sekyere was a blessing to the university and mankind, given his benevolence.

He said the cybersecurity laboratory was of immense benefit to the school and the university, making it possible for the school to train Ghana's next generation of cybersecurity-savvy professionals.

He spoke about the extended scholarships worth $150,000 to more than 100 students of the Presbyterian University, Ghana.

According to Prof Ofosu-Anim “Mr Sekyere's gesture is transformative and underscores his commitment to empowering students with globally recognized credentials and equipping them for success in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity,” he said.

He noted that the scholarships to students also augmented the university's efforts to bridge the funding gap and expressed the hope that many Ghanaians will emulate Mr Asiedu-Sekyere's philanthropy.

"We need givers, we need donors and he is showing the way. My hope is that we will get many more Asiedu-Sekyeres to come to the aid of the university and the many brilliant needy students nationwide," Prof. Ofosu-Anim said.