NHT Construction Scholar Driven to Transform Jamaica’s Infrastructure

Growing up in a modest household, with her mother working as a domestic helper and her father as a farmer, third-year university student, Jannel Muirhead, has always understood the importance of sacrifice.

So each morning before sunrise, she resolutely steps onto the first of eight buses that carry her from her home in Clarendon to the University of Technology (UTech) in Kingston and back.

The long, crowded commute is a daily act of determination, yet financial constraints threatened to derail her ambition of earning a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning.

That was until the National Housing Trust (NHT) Construction Scholarship renewed her hopes, offering funding for construction-related undergraduate programmes.

The initiative aims to strengthen Jamaica’s construction workforce by providing up to $1 million annually to each recipient.

Ms. Muirhead is one of the first 10 beneficiaries who have been selected from a competitive pool of more than 200 applicants.

She aspires to transform informal settlements, improve Jamaica’s transportation system, and design smarter and more resilient cities.

“I want to be able to invest in the country’s infrastructure and having a degree in urban and regional planning will equip me to do just that,” Ms. Muirhead shares.

Having overcome financial challenges, she is now focused on her studies and career development, guided by the wisdom of her late uncle, whom she considered a motivator.

“My uncle always told me to ‘get it done’. Those words still guide me. I am still in the process of discovering and understanding myself, growing into the woman I aspire to be – confident, classy and strong. I know I will achieve it because once I set my mind to something, I am determined to see it through,” the student says.

Assistant General Manager for the NHT’s Human Capital Management Department, Donnetta Russell, tells JIS News that the scholarship was designed to support this level of determination.

“The aim is to alleviate the financial burden of tuition, enabling students who are deeply passionate about careers in the construction industry to pursue their academic and professional goals. By providing this support, the scholarship programme will cultivate a new generation of leaders and innovators and boost the labour supply in the construction sector,” she says.

On April 8, the scholarship recipients paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who emphasised the significance of their contribution to national development.

“Dr. Holness implored the recipients to take pride in contributing to the sector and building the future of Jamaica, and we echo his advice. The construction sector offers diverse opportunities, from technical trades to project management and engineering. It is vital to national development,” Ms. Russell says.

She adds that the scholarship programme also includes avenues for hands-on experience through mentorship and internship opportunities.

“We advise scholarship recipients to notify us when they are expected to commence internships so we can assist where possible. We also encourage them to apply to the NHT Summer Internship Programme,” the Assistant General Manager says.

For Ms. Muirhead, such practical exposure is not only welcome but essential. Her ambition extends beyond earning a degree, as she wants to create change that will resonate for generations.