Telecel Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education by sponsoring an annual academic prize for the top graduating female student in computer engineering at the University of Ghana.
At this year’s Vice Chancellor’s Academic Awards ceremony held at the university’s Great Hall, Kathleen Nicole Brown was named the recipient of the Telecel Ghana Prize for the Best Graduating Female Student in Computer Engineering for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Ms. Brown earned the recognition after successfully completing a demanding four-year programme focused on both software and hardware systems. Expressing her excitement, she attributed her success to disciplined study habits, effective collaboration with peers, and consistent academic performance, while also acknowledging the role of mentorship and industry exposure provided by Telecel.
Her journey was further supported in 2024 when she was selected as one of ten beneficiaries of Telecel’s Female Engineering Students Scholarship Programme (FESSP), which offers financial support, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to final-year female engineering students. Another FESSP beneficiary, Marie-Pearl Yaa Nono Akoto, was also honoured with the award for Best Student in Computer Science.
The FESSP initiative forms part of Telecel Ghana’s broader strategy to reduce gender disparities in technical education by addressing barriers that limit female participation in engineering fields. Beyond financial aid, the programme connects students with experienced female engineers for mentorship and career guidance.
The Telecel Ghana Prize, which includes financial support, tech gadgets, and branded items, recognises excellence in one of the most challenging academic disciplines and has become a notable feature of the university’s awards scheme.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo highlighted the expansion of the awards programme, noting that 189 prizes were presented to 151 students this year, with women making up a significant portion of the recipients.
Telecel Ghana’s Human Resource Director, Rachael Appenteng, described the initiative as a long-term investment in developing female talent for Ghana’s digital future, emphasising the importance of encouraging women to pursue careers in underrepresented fields like computer engineering.
Looking ahead, Ms. Brown expressed interest in advancing her expertise in areas such as machine learning, embedded systems, and hardware security, with plans to undertake further studies and gain deeper industry experience.
She also hopes her achievement will inspire more young women to pursue careers in engineering, encouraging them to believe in their abilities and take bold steps toward their goals.
