Ten new scholars join Drive to Inspire – Africa, continuing scholars receive laptops

Ten new tertiary students have joined the Drive to Inspire – Africa LBG (DTI-A) scholarship programme, while some continuing scholars have received laptops to support their academic work.

The awards were presented at a scholarship ceremony in Accra on October 30, 2026, organised by DTI-A in partnership with the Sanjeev Mansotra Foundation (SMF).

The new beneficiaries were selected through a competitive process based on academic excellence and financial need. Their scholarships were funded by SMF under a partnership announced on April 21, 2026.

The latest cohort marks the first time male tertiary students have been admitted to the DTI-A scholarship programme, which previously supported young women.

The additional 10 beneficiaries bring the total number of scholarships awarded under the SMF-DTI-A partnership to 20.

Speaking at the ceremony, DTI-A Founder, Nana Adjoa Hackman, recalled the uncertainty surrounding the scholarship initiative when the organisation was established, particularly concerns about receiving more applications than it had the resources to support.

She said the programme, launched in late 2024 with 17 young women enrolled in 11 tertiary institutions across Ghana, had since grown to 70 scholars.

Ms Hackman credited partners such as the Sanjeev Mansotra Foundation for helping expand the initiative and urged beneficiaries to regard every opportunity as an investment in their future.

Founder of the Sanjeev Mansotra Foundation and Chairman of Planet One Group, Sanjeev Mansotra, said the partnership reflected his organisation's commitment to expanding access to education.

"We are pleased with the collaboration with DTI-A as our partner for the scholarship programme. Our vision for Ghana is that every capable child, regardless of circumstance, can pursue their ambitions and return value to the community. The scholars of today will be the innovators, educators and leaders who build the Ghana of tomorrow," he said.

He added that educating girls had wider benefits for families, communities and the country.

Representing SMF, its Group Company Secretary and Head of Corporate Affairs, Ganesh Umashankar, stressed the importance of ensuring that no one was left behind in the pursuit of education.

He encouraged the beneficiaries to make the most of the support and use their education to create positive change in their communities.

One of the scholarship recipients, Rosemary Ofori, a University of Ghana student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Geography and French, thanked DTI-A and SMF for the support.

She pledged to make the most of the opportunity.

The partnership also provides scholarship beneficiaries with a potential pathway to study at the University of Stirling's Ras Al Khaimah campus in the United Arab Emirates, subject to meeting the university's entry requirements and securing admission.