Ten (10) students from Zongo communities in Kumasi in the Ashanti region have received full scholarships to pursue tertiary education, thanks to a support initiative by Ghanaian businessman and philanthropist, Daniel McKorley, also known as McDan.

The scholarship, delivered in partnership with The Zongo Forum, is to help bright but financially challenged students to stay in school and focus on their future.

One of the beneficiaries, Fati Hussein, a first-year student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), expressed how life-changing the support is.

“As students, we are supposed to focus on our studies, but financial constraints often distract us. This support eases my burden and motivates me to work even harder,” she said.

Hilal Adam, who studies Computer Science at the Kumasi Technical University, called the scholarship a “dream come true.”

“Now I have confidence that I can pursue my career goals without worrying about fees,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Zubaida Osman, a BSc Agribusiness Management student at KNUST, said she feels honoured to be part of the scholarship programme, describing how difficult it has been to pay her fees.

“I come from a normal household, so going to school wasn’t always certain, but we did our best,” she said.

“Now my dreams will surely come true. I also hope my story will inspire more young people to consider going to school.”

Although education is seen as a critical tool for personal and national development and advancement, many communities, especially in Zongos, have many young people unable to go to school due to financial struggles.

Mr McKorley’s initiative is a response to this problem. Through the scholarship, he is helping young people in Zongo communities get access to higher education and improve their lives.

The support does not stop at students. The McDan Foundation is also working with Zongo women, giving them skills training and entrepreneurship support so they can start their own businesses and become financially independent.

The goal of the initiative is to break the cycle of poverty through education and empowerment. Community leaders and families have praised McDan for giving hope to many who thought higher education was out of reach.

“This is about changing lives,” one parent said.

The programme is expected to expand in the coming years to reach more students and families in need.

“I am an entrepreneur at heart, so my passion lies in supporting youth education and women in business. When we educate more young people and empower women, we secure a brighter future for all,” said Mr. McKorley.

The Zongo Forum has been working in partnership with the McDan Group to implement initiatives that uplift residents of Zongo communities and enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development.

President of the Zongo Forum, Mohammed Nurudeen Abubakar Ali, stressed the importance of transforming negative perceptions about Zongo communities.

He said they are aware of the great potential within Zongos, which has been ignored. The initiative is therefore a step toward unlocking that potential indicating that, McDan’s generosity also teaches everyone the value of giving back to society.

“We know the immense potential within Zongos, but it has often been overlooked. This initiative is a step toward unlocking that potential. McDan’s generosity also serves as a lesson for all of us to give back to society,” he said.