Somewhere in Wenchi in the Bono Region, a family once found itself at a heartbreaking crossroads: allow their daughter to continue pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor, or ask her to leave Medicine for a less expensive programme.
Today, that daughter, Dr Mariam Abubakar, is a junior doctor serving patients at Holy Family Hospital.
The turning point was a fully funded scholarship from the MTN Ghana Foundation.
As MTN Ghana marks 30 years of connecting people, businesses and communities and reflects on three decades of impact, Mariam’s story is one of the many lives touched by that journey.
It is the story of a young woman whose dream was almost interrupted by financial difficulties and how an investment in her education helped her stay the course, graduate and begin the medical career she had always envisioned.
A dream too expensive to keep
Medicine is one of the most demanding and costly programmes at any Ghanaian university.
For Mariam, gaining admission to study Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) at the University of Cape Coast was a milestone that filled her family in Wenchi with immense pride.
But pride, as they soon discovered, could not pay school fees.
As she progressed through the programme, the financial burden became heavier. When the time came to raise fees for another academic year, the money simply was not available.
Her family was faced with a difficult reality: perhaps Mariam would have to defer Medicine and enrol in a less costly programme they could afford.
It was a practical suggestion, born not from a lack of love or belief in her abilities, but from an honest assessment of the family’s financial circumstances.
Mariam, however, was determined not to defer. Instead, she began searching for a scholarship.
“My family suggested I defer Medicine to read another less costly programme. That is what led me to scholarship hunting, so I do not defer Medicine,” she said.
The scholarship that changed everything
When she was selected as an MTN Bright Scholar, Mariam said the relief was immediate — not only for her, but for her entire family.
“I was extremely elated. I knew where my next fees were coming from, so my heart found rest. I was among the happiest beings on earth when I found out I had been selected,” she said.
For the family, the scholarship meant much more than having Mariam’s tuition covered. It meant that her dream of becoming a doctor could continue.
The possibility of deferring was no longer an immediate concern. Mariam could remain in medical school and continue working towards her goal.
Launched in 2017 as part of MTN Ghana’s 20th anniversary celebrations, the Bright Scholarship has supported brilliant needy students through tertiary education.
Now, as MTN Ghana celebrates 30 years, Mariam’s experience offers a glimpse into the impact of that investment at an individual level: one student remained in school, completed her medical training and began the career she had always wanted.
A triple crown of excellence
In 2025, Mariam graduated from the University of Cape Coast with an MBChB degree after completing the six-year programme.
She had not deferred.
She had not changed programmes.
She had stayed the course and emerged as a doctor.
Her academic achievement was marked by three awards: Overall Best Student in Surgery, Best Student in Family Medicine, and the Emeritus Professor E.E. Brako’s Prize for Best Student in Microbiology.
For a young woman who had once faced the possibility of leaving Medicine because her family could no longer afford it, the achievement was particularly significant.
A family that now has a doctor
After graduation came the familiar transition period for many young doctors — waiting, completing paperwork and undergoing the necessary clearance processes before starting their internship.
In mid-April 2026, that wait ended.
Mariam commenced her internship at Holy Family Hospital as a Junior House Officer, taking her first steps as a practising physician.
“The scholarship led me into my dream career as a medical doctor. I am grateful to Allah for bringing MTN Bright Scholarship my way,” she said.
When Mariam reflects on what the scholarship has meant to her family, she says it with quiet pride: her family now has a doctor of their own.
For her family in Wenchi, that is more than a professional achievement. It is the fulfilment of a dream that once appeared to be slipping away.
Her story also resonates with families across the Bono Region and beyond whose children gain admission to university but struggle to remain in school when the financial demands become overwhelming.
Mariam’s journey shows what can happen when determination meets opportunity.
The MTN Ghana Foundation’s investment in her was not merely an investment in one student. It helped create an opportunity for a future doctor — one who will go on to treat patients, make diagnoses and provide reassurance to families in hospital corridors.
As MTN Ghana celebrates 30 years, Mariam stands among the beneficiaries whose stories give meaning to those three decades.
Her journey from a medical student who feared she might have to leave Medicine to a doctor serving patients is a reminder that the impact of an investment in education can continue long after the scholarship itself has ended.
“I am grateful to Allah for bringing MTN Bright Scholarship my way.”
The MTN Bright Scholarship
Since its launch in 2017, the Bright Scholarship has supported 1,220 brilliant needy students to complete 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 beneficiaries across 18 tertiary institutions nationwide, including KNUST, the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast, as well as colleges of education and health training institutions.
The academic outcomes also speak to the calibre of students supported. Seventeen Bright Scholars have graduated as valedictorians or best students in their universities, while 299 graduated with first-class honours, 47 with second-class upper and 16 with second-class lower.
For Mariam, however, the significance of the scholarship can be traced to one simple outcome.
When her family could no longer see a way to keep her in medical school, she found one.
And today, there is a doctor in the family.
