MTN Rescues Kebab-Selling Medical Student

A struggling medical student who resorted to selling kebab to finance his education has received a major lifeline from the MTN Ghana Foundation after being selected among 500 beneficiaries of its 2026/2027 Bright Scholarship Awards.

Gilbert Nyaaba Agongo, a Level 400 medical student of the University for Development Studies (UDS), had to combine his medical studies with kebab-selling to survive after financial difficulties threatened his ambition of becoming a medical doctor.

The scholarship, which covers tuition and accommodation and provides a laptop and stipend, is expected to relieve him of years of financial pressure and enable him to concentrate fully on his medical education.

Agongo’s touching story emerged at the awards ceremony held at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

In an exclusive interview after receiving his scholarship package, he disclosed that although he completed senior high school about 10 years ago, he never abandoned his childhood ambition of becoming a medical doctor.

He eventually gained admission to UDS in 2023, but the financial demands of university education became a major obstacle.

With no reliable source of financial support, he approached a kebab seller who agreed to engage him, enabling him to combine the business with his medical studies.

He admitted that the situation was extremely difficult but said he had no option than to make sacrifices to keep his dream alive.

Agongo further revealed that he had been relying on his mobile phone for academic research and studies because he could not afford a laptop.

He also struggled to secure decent accommodation, making his university experience even more challenging.

Explaining his motivation for pursuing medicine, he said his community lacked adequate healthcare facilities and was also affected by certain traditional beliefs and practices that negatively influenced the health of residents.

He therefore hoped to return to the community after completing his medical education to provide healthcare services and contribute to its development.

According to him, a previous beneficiary of the MTN scholarship encouraged him to apply for the programme when he was struggling financially.

He subsequently went through the interview process and was selected.

Overwhelmed by the opportunity, Agongo expressed gratitude to the MTN Ghana Foundation, describing the scholarship as a game-changer in his life.

He pledged to devote more time to his studies and work hard to make his family, Ghana and MTN proud.

500 Beneficiaries 

Addressing the ceremony, Robert Kuzoe, Senior Manager of the MTN Ghana Foundation, said the initiative was designed to ensure that financial difficulties did not bring the educational dreams of talented young Ghanaians to an abrupt end.

He disclosed that the Foundation received 5,194 applications for the 2026/2027 awards, out of which 1,200 candidates were shortlisted for interviews before 500 beneficiaries, including 14 persons with disabilities, were selected.

The beneficiaries comprise 300 tertiary students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), vocational and technical programmes, as well as 200 teachers pursuing further studies in related fields.

Each scholarship covers tuition and accommodation and comes with a laptop and a stipend to support the beneficiaries.

Mr. Kuzoe said the programme was particularly significant as MTN Ghana marked its 30th anniversary, describing the intervention as one of the company’s ways of expressing gratitude to Ghanaians for their support over the years.

He recounted the story of a previous beneficiary who spent a year at home after completing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) because his family could not afford university fees.

Through the Foundation’s support, the beneficiary proceeded to study pharmacy at UDS and eventually graduated with distinction.

He emerged as the Overall Best Male Graduating Student of the School of Pharmacy and Best Student in Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine.

According to Mr. Kuzoe, the achievement demonstrated how financial assistance could unlock the potential of talented young people and transform their lives.

He urged the new beneficiaries to remain focused, uphold integrity and use their knowledge and skills to address challenges in their communities and the country.

He also challenged the teacher beneficiaries to translate their academic advancement into improved teaching and learning outcomes in their respective classrooms.

1,220 Scholars 

Mr. Kuzoe disclosed that since the introduction of the Bright Scholarship programme in 2018, a total of 1,220 students had benefited from the initiative.

He said the beneficiaries had recorded impressive academic achievements, including 17 valedictorians and best graduating students, 299 first-class graduates, 47 second-class upper graduates and 16 second-class lower graduates.

Eight beneficiaries, he added, distinguished themselves as valedictorians or award winners during the current year alone.

Charles Osei-Akoto, Senior Manager for Regional Network Operations at MTN Ghana, who delivered the welcome address, said the scholarship programme reflected the company’s commitment to bridging the gap between talent and opportunity.

He observed that the cost of tuition, accommodation and learning materials continued to place enormous pressure on students and their families, sometimes threatening their ability to complete their education.

He urged the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity, pursue academic excellence and allow integrity, empathy and service to guide their professional ambitions.

Jury Commends MTN

A member of the scholarship jury, Professor Daniella Delali Sedegah of the University of Environment and Sustainable Studies, said selecting the 500 beneficiaries had been a difficult task because of the large number of deserving applicants.

She commended MTN Ghana Foundation for its sustained investment in education and its commitment to supporting brilliant but financially disadvantaged students under the initiative dubbed Bright Scholarship Awards – Honouring Students’ Excellence through Scholarships.

Some parents and guardians, including Madam Mercy Nuamah, a water supply worker; Madam Esther Yeboah, a seamstress; Mr. Fred Kwadwo Andrews, a mason; and Esther Quaye, also praised the Foundation for its contribution to educational development.

They expressed appreciation to MTN Ghana for providing financial assistance to students whose academic ambitions could otherwise have been frustrated by economic difficulties.

The ceremony, held at the Great Hall of KNUST on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, brought together representatives of the Ashanti Regional Minister, registrars of public universities, scholarship jury members, lecturers, parents, guardians, beneficiaries and other stakeholders.