When Hamdia Issahaku gained admission to the University for Development Studies (UDS) to study Nursing, she was excited to begin her journey towards becoming a professional nurse.
But financing her education was a major concern.
Growing up in Gambaga in the North East Region, Hamdia lost her mother at a young age. By the time she was preparing to enter Senior
High School, her father had retired, leaving the family with limited financial resources.
The situation became more difficult when her brother was involved in a serious accident and required a craniotomy.
The cost of his treatment exhausted much of her father’s savings and left the family struggling to meet other needs.
Hamdia’s childhood was shaped by the loss of her mother and the financial challenges that followed.
Her father had worked hard to support his children, but retirement meant the family had to manage with much less.
Her brother’s medical emergency further stretched the family’s finances, even after relatives helped to raise money for his treatment.
When Hamdia gained admission to UDS, her family could not comfortably meet the cost of tuition, accommodation, books and other expenses. Determined to remain in school, she looked for ways to support herself.
Hawking between hostels
Hamdia began selling body splash to students on the UDS campus, moving from one hostel to another to earn money for her basic needs.
The small business helped her meet some expenses, but balancing it with a demanding nursing programme became difficult.
“I had to sell body splash from one hostel to the other just to cater for some of my needs. As a result, I started facing academic setbacks, sometimes missing lectures,” she said.
She applied for the Tisungtaba Scholarship, but the support was not enough to meet her needs.
It was at this point that Dr Umar Haruna, then Vice-Dean of Students at UDS, directed her to the MTN Bright Scholarship.
The day everything changed
Hamdia was selected as an MTN Bright Scholar. The scholarship covered her tuition and accommodation and provided a laptop and a stipend for books and study materials.
For Hamdia, the support meant she no longer had to depend on selling body splash to meet the cost of her education.
“I had tears of joy because finally I had gotten the support I really needed, a fully funded scholarship. It still remains one of the happiest days of my life,” she said.
With the financial pressure reduced, she was able to concentrate more fully on her studies.
The scholarship selection process also helped her develop confidence, particularly in public speaking and presenting herself before others.
From UDS to Tema General Hospital
Hamdia completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at UDS and graduated as the Best Female Graduating Student at the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
She is now putting her training into practice through her national service at Tema General Hospital, where she is gaining practical experience as she begins her professional career in nursing.
Away from the hospital, Hamdia has also maintained her entrepreneurial spirit. She has started a small beverage business, producing and selling Sobolo and Zomkom.
For now, her focus is on building her nursing experience and preparing for the next stage of her career.
Gratitude and giving forward
Looking back, Hamdia says the MTN Bright Scholarship gave her the opportunity to focus on her education at a time when her family was struggling financially.
“MTN Ghana Foundation has made it clear that you just have to take the first step, and there will be someone to support you throughout the journey,” she said.
The MTN Bright Scholarship
Hamdia’s story is part of the impact of the MTN Ghana Foundation’s Bright Scholarship, which is being highlighted as MTN Ghana celebrates 30 years of operations in Ghana.
Launched in 2017 to mark MTN Ghana’s 20th anniversary, the programme 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, it has reached students across 18 tertiary institutions, including the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Cape Coast, as well as colleges of education and health training institutions.
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 Hamdia, those figures have a personal meaning. Her own journey has taken her from selling body splash between UDS hostels to becoming the Best Female Graduating Student at the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
