The Lebanese community in Ghana has reiterated its commitment to the development of tertiary education in the country by awarding scholarships to a number of students of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).
The brilliant students at one of the premier communication institutions on the continent were honoured in a short ceremony at the school.
Present at the ceremony were the Rector of GIJ, Dr. Wilberforce Dzisah and the Republic of Lebanon’s ambassador to the country, H.E Ali Halabi.
A total of 18 students were presented with scholarships, including five in second year, five in third year and five in their final year at the University.
Four graduates of the University who had also been sponsored under the programme during their time at the school, were also given scholarships to pursue a Masters course at GIJ.
The beneficiaries of the scholarship were chosen based on their performance over two semesters of the previous academic year.
The scholarships cover the fees and SRC dues of the students for the new academic year.
The Ambassador of Lebanon, Mr Ali Halabi, who represented the Lebanese community in Ghana at the ceremony, stated that the students were chosen based on their consistency and were fully deserving of the scholarships.
He described Ghana as his ‘second home’, saying that he had forged strong ties, particularly with the management of GIJ and the students under the programme.
“Right from the tenure of the former rector, Mr. David Newton till date, GIJ has been very welcoming. But for their support, the scholarship programme of the Lebanese community would have been an effort in futility,” the Ambassador said in his speech.
The first batch of students who were supported under the scholarship programme at the Institute graduated earlier in September with six of them obtaining first class honours while the other obtained a second class upper honours, the second highest honour in the school.
Mr. Halabi stated that the successes chalked by all seven students was a source of pride to him and motivated him and the Lebanese community to continue supporting brilliant tertiary students.
“Indeed, watching all my students successfully surmounting four years of academic tornados and graduating with flying colours made me the proudest man on earth.
This demonstration of academic dexterity by these students is reason enough to keep doing what we do. We believe in education and we believe that given a little push, the individual can and will excel.”
He called on the continuing students to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and “make me proud.”
Dr Wilberforce S. Dzisah thanked the Lebanese community for their support, expressing his hope that the partnership would continue and that the Community would ‘extend the net’ and support more students at the University.
He called on the students to continue “striving for excellence” in order not to let the Lebanese benefactors down.
The Lebanese community has also supported students in the University of Ghana, Legon and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) while dependents of fallen servants in the armed forces and police service in the country have also been assisted.
The community also supports students in some tertiary, secondary and basic schools in the Central and Northern belts of the country.
Full list of beneficiaries
Eugenia Akorfa Kumi, Richard Mawutor Dzikunu, Manasseh Sugarthan Annor, JSheriff Appiah (Masters), Tryphena Lizzert Ama Odehye Yeboah, Prosper Kofi Senyo, Edwin Kwakofi, Brigette Agozie, and Emmanuel Agorsor (Fourth year) Maame Adwoa Ohenewaa Adu, Dominic Asitanga Awuni, Shadrach Odame and Erica Nartekie Kodjo (Third year), Odamea Asare Juliana, Ibrahim Amida, Buatsi Redeemer, Kabu Nartey, Musbau Razak (Second year).
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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana