The University for Development Studies (UDS) is set to benefit from a multipurpose student resource centre with a state-of-the-art skills laboratory, to be provided by the MTN Ghana Foundation at a cost of GH¢9.7million.
The facility, expected to be completed within eight months, will serve as a hub for digital learning, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, and artificial intelligence training. It will also be accessible to students from other institutions in the Northern Region.
When completed, the centre will house a computer room with 70 laptops, robotics equipment, and video conferencing facilities linked to the Nyankpala campus. Students will also have access to courses on the MTN Skills Academy platform.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, Professor Muhammed Muniru Iddrisu, Principal of the Nyankpala Campus, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Seidu Alhassan, commended MTN Ghana Foundation for its continued support to the university. He said the facility would become “a seed of innovation and opportunity” for both students and the wider region.
He added that the centre, fitted with modern digital tools, would provide training in artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain technology, and the Internet of Things for more than 30,000 UDS students. It would also foster university-industry collaboration and equip graduates to become job creators as well as job seekers.
Dr Umar Haruna, Dean of Students’ Affairs, said the Foundation had provided initial funding for construction and equipment, while UDS would integrate the centre into its operations to ensure sustainability and continuous access for students and the community.
Robert Kuzoe, Senior Manager of the MTN Ghana Foundation, said the initiative aimed to bridge the gap between education and employment. Through partnerships with technical experts and local schools, he said, the centre would offer training programmes to prepare a skilled workforce for the digital economy.
“At MTN Ghana Foundation, we believe that by providing access to modern digital tools and training, we are empowering our youth to become innovators and leaders in the digital age,” Mr Kuzoe stated.
The resource centre, he added, would enable Ghana’s youth not only to participate in the digital economy but to shape its future.
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