Bright Kwame Boadu
A valedictorian of the October 2023 graduating cohort of the Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Bright Kwame Boadu, has appealed to wealthy individuals to support brilliant but needy students to realise their dreams and contribute to the development of society.
Mr. Boadu, whose university education was funded by businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Seidu Agongo, graduated with a Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) of 78.88, making him the best among 1,104 graduands from the KNUST College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
He has since been retained by the college as a teaching assistant for his national service while pursuing plans to further his education, and realise his dream of becoming a renowned animal scientist.
He said but for the intervention of Alhaji Agongo, he would have either performed poorly or deferred the programme as a result of limited resources.
“But for Alhaji Agongo, I can say I will not have been here as the valedictorian of my graduating group,” the Bachelor of Agriculture graduate said.
Mr. Boadu also appealed to society to understand the situation of the youth before passing judgment on their performance, noting that although he had the potential, his predicament risked masking it.
“People are really struggling and there are a lot of brilliant people out there who need some small push to shine… we should learn to share more and it will bring big changes to people’s lives and our society,” he said.
Earlier, Mr. Boadu described Alhaji Agongo, who founded the collapsed Heritage Bank Limited, as a silent philanthropist whose generosity has touched countless lives and made dreams come true.
He also challenged his fellow graduates to not be fixated on grades or outcomes, “for success is a multifaceted journey.
“You will define it, and no one will ever belittle you again. Success will emanate from your inner compass of decency and purpose,” he said.
He also commended Gifty Boakye, who he said first discovered him and funded his education before connecting him with Alhaji Agongo.
Mr. Boadu said as part of his studies, he developed interest in animal feed, particularly for poultry and would aim to develop cheaper yet nutritious alternative feed to the maize-sourced ones in the system.
In October, another benefactor of Alhaji Agongo, Frederick Agaaya Adongo, was called to the bar after successfully completing the law progamme and passing the bar exam, which the philanthropist funded.
A Daily Guide Report