More Ghanaians benefit from scholarship deal brokered by Otumfuo at University of Memphis

The number of Ghanaian studying at the University of Memphis, Tennessee, USA, has increased to 150 since the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, brokered a scholarship deal for Ghanaian students at the university.

Sealed in 2023, the deal allow Ghanaian students to undertake undergraduate, master’s and PhD studies at the prestigious university.

Under the agreement, which has Ghana represented by the Scholarship Secretariat, up to 70 per cent of the available space is reserved for students who will undertake courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

This was made known when the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University, Dr David Russomanno paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at the Manhyia Palace in  Kumasi.

Dr Russomanno who is in the country as part of efforts to expand the university’s partnership with Ghana, was accompanied to Manhyia Palace by Dr Balaji Krishnan, the Vice-Provost for International Affairs; Dr Okenwa Okoli, the Dean of the Herff College of Engineering; Dr Kingsley Agyemang, the Registrar of Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, and some officials from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

Relationship
In his presentation, Dr Russomanno said, “We very much value the relationship we have with Ghana and hope to deepen and broaden that relationship.”

He added: “We welcome students from all over the world. We welcome them, we treat them like family. We invest in their success, we focus on the success of our students then afterwards outcomes.”

IT programmes
Dr Russomanno mentioned plans to partner with Ghana to offer IT courses to students as part of a vision to increase the number of IT workers. “We are prepared to offer the online programme to deepen our partnership around how we can best complement the interest and capabilities,” he stated.

Ghana campus
Otumfuo made a proposal for the establishment of the University of Memphis’ first African campus in Ghana.

In addition, he proposed a scholarship for lecturers at the KNUST to pursue Doctor of Philosophy programmes and upgrade their expertise in Memphis.

Citation
The University presented a citation to His Majesty. It read, “Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in recognition of your commitment to education and the empowerment of future generations which has opened the doors for campus students and enriched our academic community.”