Hamdia Issahaku, a nursing graduate from the University for Development Studies (UDS), has achieved a remarkable feat by graduating as the Best Female Graduating Student. Her journey to success was not easy, as she faced financial struggles that could have derailed her education. Hamdia's family encountered financial difficulties after her mother's passing and her father's retirement. The situation worsened when her brother was involved in a serious accident that required a craniotomy, depleting her family's savings.
Despite the financial challenges, Hamdia was determined to pursue her education. She gained admission to UDS to study for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, but financing her education became a serious problem. To overcome this, she turned to selling body splash, moving between student hostels to make sales and raise money for her basic needs. Although the hustle helped her get by, it came at a cost to her studies, as she sometimes missed lectures while trying to keep her small trade running alongside coursework.
Hamdia's fortunes changed when she applied for the MTN Bright Scholarship, which covered her tuition, accommodation, and provided a laptop and stipend for books and other study materials. She described the moment she learned she had secured the fully funded scholarship as one of the happiest days of her life. With her basic costs taken care of, she was able to focus more on her academic work and no longer had to juggle hawking with her nursing studies.
The MTN Bright Scholarship, launched in 2017, has supported 1,220 students described as brilliant but needy to complete their tertiary education. The programme, which covers tuition, accommodation, a laptop, and study materials, has reached students in 18 tertiary institutions, including the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Cape Coast.
Hamdia's story reflects a reality facing thousands of Ghanaian tertiary students who must fund their own education, often through informal trading, amid rising university costs and limited family income. Her case illustrates how a single medical emergency can derail a family's finances and threaten a child's education, and how targeted scholarship support can reverse that trajectory.
Hamdia is currently completing her National Service at Tema General Hospital, where she is building practical experience in her nursing career. She has also kept up her entrepreneurial streak, starting a small beverage business producing and selling Sobolo and Zomkom. Her immediate focus is on gaining professional experience while preparing for the next stage of her career.
The MTN Bright Scholarship has achieved significant success, with 17 Bright Scholars graduating as valedictorians or best students, while 299 others graduated with first-class honours. Hamdia's achievement serves as an inspiration to many Ghanaian students who face similar financial challenges, demonstrating that with determination and support, they can overcome obstacles and achieve academic success.
Key points
- Hamdia Issahaku graduated as the Best Female Graduating Student at the University for Development Studies (UDS) School of Nursing and Midwifery despite facing financial struggles.
- The MTN Bright Scholarship has supported 1,220 students in 18 tertiary institutions, covering tuition, accommodation, and providing study materials.
- Hamdia's story highlights the challenges faced by Ghanaian tertiary students in funding their education and the impact of targeted scholarship support.
