The Impala Foundation has extended a gesture of support to students of the University for Development Studies (UDS), awarding full tuition scholarships to twenty-three (23) outstanding yet financially disadvantaged students for the 2025/2026 academic year.

The scholarships were formally presented at a brief but impactful ceremony held at the City Campus of the University on Monday, January 12, 2026. The event brought together University officials, student leaders, and representatives of the Foundation in a show of shared commitment to educational equity and academic excellence.

Of the 23 beneficiaries, sixteen (16) students were drawn from the School of Business, with the remaining seven (7) representing other faculties across the University. The support package covers their full tuition for the academic year, offering a lifeline to students whose educational journeys have been threatened by financial constraints.

Delivering her remarks at the ceremony, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Hon. Dzifa Tegah, emphasized that the initiative is rooted in the belief that no talented student should be denied the opportunity to pursue higher education due to economic hardship.

“This intervention is our modest contribution to ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of academic dreams,” she noted. “We expect beneficiaries to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to excellence. The true measure of this investment will be reflected in your academic performance and character.”

Her address underscored the Foundation’s broader vision of empowering young people to become responsible leaders and change-makers within their communities and beyond.

Speaking on behalf of University Management, the Dean of Students, Dr. Umar Haruna, expressed profound appreciation to the Impala Foundation for what he described as a timely and impactful intervention.

He lauded the Foundation’s commitment to supporting brilliant but needy students and advocated for the institutionalization of the initiative as an annual programme.

“This support comes at a crucial time for many of our students,” Dr. Haruna stated. “We are deeply grateful to the Impala Foundation and assure you that the University will provide the necessary academic and administrative support to ensure that beneficiaries maximize this opportunity.”

Also addressing the gathering, Prof. Ibrahim Osman Adam, Dean of the School of Business, encouraged the awardees to justify the confidence reposed in them by excelling academically and conducting themselves as worthy ambassadors of both UDS and the Impala Foundation.

“You have been carefully selected based on merit and need,” he said. “Let your academic achievements and personal integrity speak to the wisdom of that decision.”

For the beneficiaries, the scholarship represents more than financial relief—it symbolizes renewed hope and affirmation of their academic potential. Several of the students described the support as both timely and transformative, noting that it would enable them to focus more fully on their studies without the anxiety of tuition-related challenges.

In recognition of her leadership and the Foundation’s generosity, Hon. Dzifa Tegah was presented with a citation by the Business Students Association on behalf of the awardees. The gesture reflected the students’ deep appreciation and their commitment to honoring the Foundation’s goodwill through hard work and excellence.

The ceremony was attended by staff of the Impala Foundation, Heads of Departments from the School of Business, the School Officer, the Academic Affairs Coordinator, the Assistant Registrar at the Office of the Dean of Students, executives of the Business Students Association, and a cross-section of students.

The event concluded on a note of optimism and shared responsibility, as both the University and the Foundation reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing talent and promoting inclusive access to quality higher education.

Through initiatives such as this, partnerships between philanthropic institutions and universities continue to play a vital role in shaping the next generation of professionals and leaders in Ghana and beyond.