Accra: The Daniel Ntow Obese Foundation (DNOF) has held its second scholarship award ceremony, selecting 44 brilliant but needy tertiary students to pursue various programs at different institutions across the country.
According to Ghana News Agency, the awardees, including 20 females, were selected from 12 tertiary institutions in seven regions after a rigorous process that received 614 applications from all 16 regions. In line with the national development agenda, 84 percent of the beneficiaries are pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related programs, with the remainder studying humanities. Depending on individual circumstances, the scholarship will cover tuition fees, stationery, and living expenses throughout the academic year.
Having awarded 26 scholarships during its maiden award ceremony last year, the Foundation has expanded the scheme this year, reaffirming its commitment to enabling access to higher education for the less privileged. Mrs. Elizabeth Obese, the President of the Foundation, indicated that the increasing number of qualified applicants reflected the growing need for educational support among talented students from underprivileged backgrounds. ‘We have observed that there are so many needy but brilliant students and there is a need for us to assist them to achieve their goals in life,’ she said.
Mrs. Obese noted that investing in education created a ripple effect because beneficiaries often went on to support others within their communities. The Foundation, she indicated, operated a transparent and merit-based selection process, where applicants were assessed solely on academic performance and financial need, regardless of family ties or personal relationships. She recounted that an applicant who shared her surname and hailed from her hometown was not awarded the scholarship because the person failed to meet the required standard. ‘The fact that we bear the same name does not qualify you to receive our scholarship if you do not perform,’ Mrs. Obese said, adding, ‘we have a very robust and transparent system.’
Highlighting the impact of last year’s awards, Mrs. Obese said one beneficiary had won the Dean’s Award for the 2025/2026 academic year after receiving the Foundation’s support. She also cited the example of Ms. Grace Abongo, who said the scholarship and leadership training organized by the Foundation had improved her confidence and enabled her to serve as Treasurer of her student body at the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences.
Citing the increasing demand for the Foundation’s scholarship, Mrs. Obese appealed to individuals, corporate bodies, and other institutions for partnership to enable them to extend assistance to more deserving students. The DNOF President said, beyond financial support, the Foundation organized capacity-building sessions to equip beneficiaries with leadership and personal development skills. Mrs. Obese further revealed that the Foundation’s activities extended beyond scholarships to include medical outreach programs, guidance and counseling services, and ICT training in basic computational thinking for Junior High School students. She gave assurance of its commitment to accountability as well as providing reports to donors on how their contributions were utilized.
Mr. George Amfo-Ntiri, the Chairman of the five-member scholarship committee of the Foundation, explained that the beneficiaries were selected solely on merit after they had demonstrated academic potential, financial need, and resilience, among other criteria. He reported that the committee received 614 applications from 28 tertiary institutions across all regions but 213 were shortlisted out of which 100 were called for interview and 44 recommended for awards. He said all the 213 candidates initially shortlisted qualified for the awards, but they were forced to trim down the number owing to the lack of adequate funds. He, therefore, encouraged all benevolent individuals and organizations to prioritize DNOF as beneficiaries of their kind gestures.
Dr. Mac-Anthony Cobbinah, the Librarian of the University of Cape Coast and the Chairman of the award ceremony, commended the Ntow Obese Family for their consistency, commitment, and dedication to supporting society. He attested to the credibility and capacity of the DNOF to partner benevolent organizations and individuals to help societies, making a strong case for increased support. Dr. Cobbinah entreated beneficiaries to work hard to excel and return to support the foundation.
Master George Dutu Junior, a Level 400 Doctor of Pharmacy student at the University of Cape Coast, said the DNOF had enabled him to continue his education after the death of his parents left him without financial support. Despite his determination to study Pharmacy, the lack of assistance from relatives nearly derailed his academic ambitions until the foundation intervened with the scholarship support. He said the Foundation’s assistance had given him hope and helped him progress successfully to his final year of study. Master Dutu appealed to individuals and organizations to support the DNOF so it could continue providing educational opportunities and hope to other financially challenged students.