In a major move to align higher education with the evolving needs of the tech industry, MTN Ghana has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The strategic alliance focuses on nurturing local artificial intelligence (AI) talent, driving research, and expanding opportunities for women in STEM.
The partnership bridges academic instruction and industry practice, giving KNUST students direct exposure to real-world technology challenges.
Under the agreement, MTN will offer internships, industry-led training modules, digital project work, and graduate recruitment pathways.
Kwame Adu Manu, Senior Manager for Digital Analytics and Monetisation at MTN Ghana, noted during the signing ceremony that aligning academic curricula with corporate demands is essential for building local tech sovereignty.
“We want to bridge that gap between industry and academia,” Manu said.
He added, “we want to build solutions for Africa, for ourselves, for Ghana to solve our own problems.”
Through MTN’s Digital Analytics and Monetisation department, students will participate in active AI projects alongside guest lectures from telecom professionals.
The program also aims to retain top-tier talent within the country, addressing regional brain drain.
KNUST Vice-Chancellor Professor Christian Agyare welcomed the agreement, highlighting its potential to enhance collaborative research and practical teaching.
As part of the initiative, MTN will sponsor scholarships for the top three graduating Computer Science students, including a dedicated award for the top female graduate to encourage gender diversity in STEM fields.
To ensure effectiveness, the partnership will be managed by MTN and KNUST’s Department of Computer Science through a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework designed to track outcomes and continuously improve program delivery.
Article By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie,
Kumasi
