Beneficiaries of the “Tullow Ashesi Engineering Scholarship Scheme”, who are five in number – for the first batch, will enjoy free tuition, housing, meals, health insurance, among others.
The scheme is expected to expand in the coming year to cover at least ten undergraduate students offering courses in Engineering at the Ashesi University.
Speaking at the launch at the Ashesi University Friday, Senior Geologist at Tullow Ghana Limited, Lina Sowah explained that the scholarship scheme is one of the numerous strategies Tullow has initiated toward the promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Ghana.
She said the scholarship scheme was set up to build capacity of students through STEM education in order to produce graduates who would use their skills to help in the development of Ghana.
“Since 2010, Tullow has supported education, and scholarship as part of our tenet of shared prosperity to grow and develop the capacity of Ghanaian students in various fields of study,” she noted.
The Senior Geologist further disclosed that as part of efforts to drive Tullow's STEM initiative outlined in its Socio-Economic Investment Strategy covering the period 2016-2020, the oil exploration company in 2017, decided to focus more on STEM education, hence the launch of the “Tullow Ashesi Engineering Scholarship Scheme”.
“This directed focus provides access and opportunity for us to support, preparing the next generation of students for a technology driven society in which we find ourselves, particularly for the jobs here in Ghana and also in the oil and gas industry which is our core business,” she stressed.
She reiterated Tullow’s commitment toward creating “shared-prosperity” of leaving a legacy of lasting sustainable social and economic benefit in its host countries.
In view of this, the Africa’s leading and independent oil company, according to Lina Sowah has positioned itself toward capacity building through STEM education and development, to prepare the youth to act as a link between STEM education and a direct positive impact for the Ghanaian economy.
Tullow also wants to “strengthen the local economy by building up the private sector and expanding growth through local economic activities and also in investing in shared infrastructure and logistics.”
She urged the beneficiaries of the Tullow Ashesi Engineering Scholarship Scheme to work hard in their various courses so as to encourage others to develop an interest to study Science and Engineering courses.
“To you recipients of this scholarship programme, we’re looking for greatness. We’re looking for you to strive for excellence which is already part of the branding that you already have in Ashesi. Beyond that we also believe you have the potential to make changes in many Science and Engineering disciplines,” she advised.
About Tullow STEM Initiative
The implementation of the STEM plan by Tullow is in line with government’s strategic objective to equip young people in Ghana to support the technical and industrial development of the country.
Through this initiative, Tullow Ghana Limited has set up scholarship schemes for Science and Engineering students in some tertiary universities namely; the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Ghana, Legon and the latest at the Ashesi University College.
Tullow has also refurbished Science laboratories in Senior High Schools across the country to encourage more students to pursue courses in the Sciences and Mathematics.
Six Kindergartens has been built in six fishing communities through the STEM plan and six more of such would be built in other communities soon.
The KG programme according to a communique from Tullow, has admitted and trained 7220 children, trained 120 KG teachers and head teachers. Over the next three years, we will build six additional KGs which will train about 4800 children, 111 teachers and head teachers in fishing communities in the Western Region.
Tullow has also launched the "Innovate to Educate" programme to nurture school pupils to develop an interest in science at the basic level.
