The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has launched the Women in Mining Scholarship Scheme in collaboration with the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT).
The scholarship, targeted at women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in Ghana’s mining communities, seeks to bridge the gender gap in mining and STEM fields while developing the sector’s human capital.
The launch event, held on UMaT’s campus, brought together key stakeholders, including MIIF board members, UMaT executives and gender equity advocates.
Speaking at the event, the CEO of MIIF, Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, emphasized the Programme’s significance, describing it as a “watershed moment” for mining, education, and gender equity in Ghana.
The scholarship is exclusively designed for women pursuing mining engineering and STEM-related disciplines.
It aligns with MIIF’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy to promote diversity and inclusion in Ghana’s traditionally male-dominated mining industry.
The CEO underscored that the initiative is not just about financial support but about creating a community of trailblazing women in mining.
“This Programme is about building a generation of women miners, engineers, and C-suite managers who will inspire and mentor others,” he said.
“By empowering women, we eradicate perceptual biases, foster environmental advocacy, and create a more innovative, sustainable mining industry.”
After a rigorous selection process led by a steering committee comprising MIIF female managers and UMaT officials, the first cohort of 49 scholarship recipients was announced.
The committee was chaired by Prof. Grace Sarpong-Akuffo, West Africa’s first female professor in metallurgy and UMaT’s newly appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor.
Addressing the recipients, the CEO celebrated their achievements and highlighted the opportunities ahead.
“The most important commodity now is opportunity,” he said.
“With MIIF’s support and your dedication, we believe you will become trailblazers in the mining sector, following in the footsteps of giants like Prof. Sarpong-Akuffo and Rev. Joyce Aryee.”
The MIIF Board Chairman, Professor Douglas Boateng, emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative.
“By launching this scholarship, we are opening doors, breaking barriers, and paving the way for a future where women drive the growth of Ghana’s mining and engineering industries,” he said.
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