The West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) has awarded 75 laptops to 75 Postgraduate Students from various departments at the University of Ghana, in support of the Vice Chancellor’s ‘One student One laptop’ (1S1L) initiative.
The 1S1L initiative, is aimed at providing affordable and free laptops for students in general and especially for less privileged students of the university to enhance teaching, learning and research and to build an inclusive digital technology community.
Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, presented the laptops to the beneficiaries during a short ceremony held at the forecourt of the Centre. She congratulated the beneficiaries of the award and applauded WAGMC for their generosity in supporting this initiative. She explained the goal and vision alignment of the 1S-1L initiative and that of the University at large. She said, “The programme was established so that our students will have access to laptops so that their technological skills will improve.” Professor Amfo also highlighted that irrespective of the discipline students are pursuing, they need to technologically adapt. She went on to encourage all stakeholders and various institutions to partake in this initiative.
A group picture after the award ceremony
Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, the Vice-Chancellor, UG with Prof. S Fiifi Ofori-Acquah, WAGMC Director (left) and Prof. Peter Quartey, Chairman 1S1L Committee (right)
At the ceremony dubbed “75 for UG@75”, Prof. S Fiifi Ofori-Acquah explained that the WAGMC Postgraduate Laptop Fellowship programme was launched during WAGMC’s Fresher Graduate Student Fair on the 17th of February 2023. Students were introduced to two fellowship award opportunities- a Research and a Laptop Fellowship and were encouraged to sign up and apply for these fellowships with the aim to provide them with resources and opportunities to support with their teaching and learning. 45 students from various departments were chosen as recipients of the laptop fellowship after a rigorous selection process by a Fellowship Award Review Committee. However, the number of laptops awarded was increased to a total of 75 to commemorate the University of Ghana’s 75th anniversary celebration (UG@75).
Belinda Henewaa Kyeremeh MSc Genetic Counselling student receiving an award from the Vice-Chancellor
Group picture with some students from the various departments
Recipients of the laptops include postgraduate students from WAGMC, University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS), School of Biomedical & Allied Health Sciences (SBAHS) and the School of Social Sciences.
The Chairman of the “1 Student 1 Laptop” Committee, Professor Peter Quartey, commented that students should take the opportunity to learn and add value to themselves through the use of the laptops.
Prof. Ofori-Acquah with the 2nd cohort of students from the WAGMC MSc Genetic Counselling Programme
Prof. Ofori-Acquah congratulated the students on their efforts in going through the rigorous application process. He went on to recognise the transformative potential of technology in education and indicated that access to personal laptops would empower students to conduct research, write their thesis and reports and stay updated with the latest developments in their respective programmes.
Some students in an interview expressed their excitement after receiving the laptops. Ms Emilia Sarpong, a first year MSc Medical Laboratory Sciences student specialising in bacteriology said “I was very surprised when I was selected to receive the laptop. It is a fantastic offer. The laptop will go a long way in my research and proposal presentations for my various courses. Thank you to WAGMC and those who took the initiative to help the students”.
The Head of Department of Psychology, Prof. Joseph Osafo, gave the vote of thanks at the end of the ceremony and expressed his excitement for his department receiving the most laptop awards.
Present at the brief presentation ceremony were the Registrar of UG, the Deans of the various schools, the Head of Departments and Representatives of the departments, Representatives from other African Centers of Excellence at UG- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) and West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), the Chief Information Technology Officer of UG and some members of the University Community.
