Business Administration
Class of 2022
Jim Ovia Foundation Leaders Scholarship
Born in Chorkor, an urban slum of Accra, Ghana, I grew up amid a society which placed little emphasis on the importance of education. Even though my community was not deprived of schools, there were almost no external stimuli which could spark one’s interest in Academia. The social vices, such as alcoholism, early pregnancy, and child delinquency, as well as poor sanitation, which engulfed the community, were strong. However, I despised the status quo and was determined not to follow the crowd.
At a very young age, I did not have access to many reading materials and had a limited conceptual grasp on how computers worked. Nonetheless, I made sure to make the most of what I had. Coming from a humble background, I was very familiar with hardship. My father was a private security guard and my mother sold kenkey on a small scale. I am a Christian and believe that with God and perseverance, I can become a more productive member of society.
In elementary school, I was the best student in the class, sweeping a total of nine awards. I was also the best contestant in an essay competition which was organized by an NGO that focused on the poor sanitation facing the community. When I entered senior high school, I served as the Scripture Union President, the Sanitation Prefect, and was an active member of the Ghana National Association of Business Students.
To further my education at a university of Ashesi’s kind was an elusive target. I applied to Ashesi University and put in a financial aid application. Sadly, I wasn’t given the opportunity in my first attempt. So, I came out of senior high school and worked for a year.
All this while, I wanted to further my education and so I applied to Ashesi University again. I was happy when I was given the Jim Ovia Foundation Leaders Scholarship. The scholarship was the gateway to the Ashesi world where we are given the necessary capabilities that will make us very significant to the African business environment. On the other hand, it was an indication that the university believed in my potential and I have no reason to disappoint that confidence. This could not have been possible without the scholarship, for which I am very grateful to the donors.
I chose Ashesi University because of the unique training it offers as a means of tackling the varied socio-economic challenges of Africa. I am pursuing a degree in Business Administration and for my few months of stay at Ashesi, I have been really impacted. As a multi-cultural community, it has taught me how to interact with people from different backgrounds who reason from different perspectives. I have also learned how to visualize problems from different angles and my computing skills are being improved.
“As a multi-cultural community, [Ashesi] has taught me how to interact with
people from different backgrounds who reason from different perspectives.”
In the next six years, I aspire to build a robust foundation in Leadership and Management. Poor leadership is among the biggest problems holding back the development of our nation and Africa. Good leaders are good managers, and they know how to appropriate what they have for the betterment of society. I aspire to be a Chartered Accountant, Fish Farming Entrepreneur, an Educationist, a Motivational Speaker, an Author, and a Philanthropist. I am very grateful for the Jim Ovia Foundation Leaders Scholarship and I am determined to prove myself worthy.
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