In a move to enhance the digital experience of students at the University of Ghana, 139 individuals recently benefited from the Vice-Chancellor’s One Student One Laptop (1S1L) Initiative. The ceremony, held at the Cedi Conference Centre, marked another significant step in the university’s commitment to providing essential tools for academic success.
Led by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, the event saw the distribution of laptops to the 139 deserving students, bringing the total number of laptops distributed to over 300 since the initiative’s launch in August 2022. Earlier distributions had taken place, including events for 50 students in the Department of Computer Science and 75 presented to Graduate Students by the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC).
Dr. Elizier Taiba Ameyaw-Buronyah, Director of the Public Affairs Directorate, welcomed attendees and emphasized the significance of the 1S1L initiative in the university’s journey toward digitalization. Launched on April 20, 2022, as part of the Vice-Chancellor’s visionary tech-driven initiatives, 1S1L aims to eliminate financial barriers to students’ success by providing laptops free of charge, considering academic performance and financial need.
The Chairperson of the 1S1L Implementation Committee, Prof. Peter Quartey, who also serves as the Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), highlighted the Vice-Chancellor’s vision to equip students with digital tools for academic and personal growth. Prof. Quartey assured attendees that more initiatives were on the horizon to prepare students for the professional world post-graduation.
Prof. Ernest Yaw Tweneboah-Koduah, Head of the Selection Committee, shed light on the meticulous selection process, emphasizing that eligibility was based on academic merit, with applicants ranked according to their grade point averages. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, in presenting the laptops, expressed her vision for students to be critical thinkers, technologically adaptive, and culturally sensitive, ready for the 21st-century industry.
Expressing satisfaction with the initiative’s progress, Prof. Amfo thanked generous benefactors and commended the 1S1L Implementation Committee for their dedicated efforts. She acknowledged the Students Financial Aid Office for their role in the selection process and the Public Affairs Directorate for their support.
The Presidents of GRASAG-UG and UGSRC, Claudius Angsongna and Frank Tsikata respectively, expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, donors, and the 1S1L Implementation Committee. They encouraged beneficiaries to use the laptops judiciously and announced plans for the SRC to support the initiative through donations.
As the Vice-Chancellor’s 1S1L Initiative continues to gain momentum, it stands as proof to the university’s commitment to supporting students in their pursuit of academic excellence and personal growth in an increasingly digital world.
Published By: Justice Donkoh | GESHub.org
