More students form African will be attending Arizona State University in the coming years. The United Nations recognized a global education program Wednesday that included ASU.

NADINE ARROYO RODRIGUEZ: For the next seven years, ASU will receive nearly $28 million to educate 120 students from Africa.  The money will come from the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program- whose goals is educate 15,000 students from the continent. The program helps disadvantaged students get a bachelor’s degree and then return to work in their home country. Jacqueline Smith is with ASU’s University Initiative.

JAQUELINE SMITH: We’ve received a tremendous amount of interest from faculty who already work in the continent of Africa and who want to work hand-in-hand with these students to continue to help local communities there.

NADINE ARROYO RODRIGUEZ: Ten students from Ghana, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Kenya, Rwanda and Cameroon have already started their education at ASU this fall.  Many are studying engineering, math and science -- including Ama Owusu-Darko. She’s from Ghana and is studying health sciences.

AMA OWUSU-DARKO: I have the opportunity to be a leader, to use the experience I have. Like I’m becoming also more aware of my rights and I’ve realized that there’s a lot that I can do.

NADINE ARROYO RODRIGUEZ: Smith says more students will arrive in subsequent years. ASU is currently one of six U.S> universities participating in the program. Others include UC Berkeley, Stanford and Duke.

Updated 9/26/2012 at 3:17 p.m.