Thompson Kawoktu Kombat’s dream of becoming a pharmacist was nearly delayed by his family’s financial circumstances.
After completing his WASSCE in 2018 with excellent results, he spent a year at home in Nakpanduri in the North East Region because his family could not afford his university admission fees.
He gained admission to the University for Development Studies (UDS) in 2019 to study Doctor of Pharmacy, but financing his education remained a challenge.
Without a laptop, he relied on his mobile phone for academic work. In his second year, he lost his mother, while his father struggled to access his retirement benefits.
The MTN Bright Scholarship became a turning point. Selected at the end of his Level 300 year, Thompson received financial assistance and a laptop to support his studies.
In November 2025, he graduated with a Distinction in Doctor of Pharmacy.
At UDS’s 26th Congregation, he was also named Overall Best Male Graduating Student of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Overall Best Student in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine.
His journey from financial hardship to academic excellence forms part of the beneficiary stories marking MTN Ghana’s 30th anniversary.
A year lost, a dream deferred
Despite his strong WASSCE results, Thompson could not proceed to university immediately because his family lacked the funds to pay his admission fees.
When he secured admission to UDS in 2019, a businessman lent his family money to cover the initial costs. However, the financial pressure continued throughout his studies.
The loss of his mother in his second year compounded the difficulties he faced.
“I lost my mother in my second year, a painful experience that deeply affected me. Around the same time, my father faced difficulties accessing his retirement benefits, which had been locked up in the bank,” he recounted.
With the cost of his education still a concern, Thompson searched for opportunities that could help him complete his degree.
The search that led to a scholarship
Thompson discovered the MTN Ghana Bright Scholarship while searching online for financial assistance. After applying and attending an interview, he was selected at the end of his Level 300 year.
He immediately called his father with the news.
“For the first time, I felt relief from the constant burden of worrying about tuition and accommodation fees. Before the scholarship, every academic year came with anxiety about how to settle school bills, and that uncertainty often affected my concentration,” he said.
The scholarship covered his tuition and accommodation, provided a stipend for daily expenses and supplied a laptop, giving him better access to digital learning materials and research resources.
The support also reinforced his determination to make the most of the opportunity.
“I recognised that not every deserving or needy student had the opportunity to receive such support. This made me view the opportunity not simply as financial assistance, but as a vote of confidence in my abilities,” he said.
Distinction and three awards
Thompson graduated in November 2025 with a Distinction in Doctor of Pharmacy, earning recognition for his academic performance.
At the university’s 26th Congregation, he received two additional honours: Overall Best Male Graduating Student of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Overall Best Student in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine.
He has since passed his professional licensure examination and is a registered pharmacist, awaiting his housemanship posting.
Reflecting on his university experience, he said, “Excellence attracts support, and when one is committed and performs well, opportunities will arise through the goodwill of others.
That belief inspired me to remain focused and determined throughout my studies.”
The Pharmacist Ghana’s Industry Needs
Thompson hopes to specialise in industrial pharmacy, focusing on drug formulation, development and research.
He plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Technology and contribute to Ghana’s pharmaceutical industry.
He expressed gratitude to the MTN Ghana Foundation for helping him complete his education.
“This scholarship has made a lasting difference in my life, and for that, I remain sincerely thankful,” he said.
As MTN Ghana marks 30 years on the theme “30 Years of Progress, Power to You”, Thompson’s experience illustrates how educational support can help talented students overcome financial barriers and prepare for professional careers.
About the MTN Bright Scholarship
The MTN Bright Scholarship is an initiative of the MTN Ghana Foundation that supports brilliant, financially disadvantaged students in public tertiary institutions. It covers tuition, accommodation, stipends for reading materials and a laptop.
Thompson’s achievement is one of the stories highlighting the programme’s contribution to education as MTN Ghana celebrates three decades of operations in the country.
