When Nancy Agyeman Duah’s name was announced as the Overall Best Graduating Student of Ho Technical University’s Class of 2025, it marked the culmination of years of determination, sacrifice, and perseverance.
She had graduated with a CGPA of 3.96 out of 4, earning a Bachelor of Technology in Hospitality Management and finishing at the top of her university.
Behind that remarkable achievement, however, was a family that had worked hard to keep her education on track, a father who repairs engines, and a mother who sells sachet water.
Nancy’s journey from Abuakwa in the Ashanti Region to the top of her graduating class is also a story of how financial support can change the course of a young person’s education.
As MTN Ghana marks 30 years of operations, its experience is one of the stories that reflects the impact of its investment in education and young people.
Pure water and engine grease
Nancy grew up in Abuakwa, where her parents worked hard to provide for their family. Her father is a mechanic, while her mother sells sachet water. Their livelihoods were modest, but they remained determined to give their children opportunities through education.
As Nancy progressed through school, however, the cost of education became increasingly difficult for the family to manage.
By the time she entered university, the financial pressure had become acute. Tuition and other expenses were a constant concern, while her parents, now in their later years, had limited financial capacity to shoulder the cost of her tertiary education.
But they never asked her to give up. Instead, they encouraged her to remain focused and trust that things would work out. ‘My parents always encouraged me not to worry about finances but to trust that God would provide. Although the burden was heavy at times, I stayed committed to my studies,’ she said.
With that encouragement, Nancy enrolled at Ho Technical University to pursue a Bachelor of Technology in Hospitality Management.
She remained focused on her studies, determined not to allow her family’s financial circumstances to define her academic journey.
A scholarship at the right time
Nancy first heard about the MTN Bright Scholarship through a friend’s group chat. Her brother-in-law also encouraged her to apply.
She did, and when the news came that she had been selected, it became a defining moment for her family. ‘Between my tears of joy and my mom’s screams of thanksgiving, I can truly say it was one of the best days for my family and me,’ she said.
For Nancy, the scholarship meant more than financial assistance. It eased the pressure on her parents and allowed her to concentrate more fully on her education without the constant worry over how her fees and other academic expenses would be met.
The support also gave her a sense of affirmation that her efforts and potential were worth investing in. ‘The MTN Bright Scholarship was more than a scholarship for me; it was a bridge between potential and possibility,’ she said.
The support came through the MTN Bright Scholarship, which was launched in 2017 to provide brilliant but needy students with the opportunity to complete tertiary education. For Nancy, the results of that opportunity would eventually go far beyond simply completing university.
Finishing at the top
Nancy graduated in November 2025 as the Overall Best Graduating Student of Ho Technical University’s Class of 2025. Her CGPA of 3.96 out of 4 placed her at the top of the institution, a remarkable outcome for a young woman whose education had once been threatened by financial constraints.
Her achievement also became a source of pride for her parents, whose daily work had helped keep her education alive through difficult times.
From a home sustained by engine repairs and sachet water sales, their daughter had become the best graduating student of her university. For Nancy, the achievement is proof of what can happen when determination is matched with opportunity.
After the cap and gown
Since graduating, Nancy has continued to pursue her ambitions. She has built a beauty business offering hair braiding and lash services, keeping her financially active while preparing for her next goal, a transition into Law.
The experience has strengthened her belief that education can open doors that may initially appear out of reach. She also hopes her journey will encourage other young people facing financial challenges to remain committed to their education. ‘In my community, my story serves as encouragement to younger people who may also face challenges. It shows them that with determination, excellence, and the right support, their dreams are achievable,’ she said.
A story beyond one family
Nancy’s journey is one of the testimonies emerging from MTN Ghana’s 30-year journey. For her family, the significance of the Bright Scholarship was not simply that it helped pay for university. It meant that a daughter whose parents were struggling to meet the rising cost of tertiary education could remain in school, complete her degree, and graduate at the very top of her class.
Her story illustrates the difference that targeted support can make when financial barriers threaten to stand between a young person and their potential. And for Nancy, the achievement is not the end of the journey. It is the foundation for what comes next.
The MTN Bright Scholarship
Since its launch in 2017 to mark MTN Ghana’s 20th anniversary, the Bright Scholarship has supported 1,220 brilliant yet needy students in completing their tertiary education. The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, a laptop, and a stipend for books and study materials.
Over nine years, the programme has reached students across 18 tertiary institutions nationwide, including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Ghana, and the University of Cape Coast, as well as colleges of education and health training institutions.
The programme’s academic outcomes have also been notable. Seventeen Bright Scholars have graduated as valedictorians or best students at their universities, while 299 have graduated with first-class honours, 47 with second-class upper, and 16 with second-class lower honours.
For students like Nancy, those figures represent more than statistics. They represent opportunities, and, in her case, the opportunity to turn the sacrifices of a mechanic and a sachet water seller into a university success story.