Meet the three University of Ghana valedictorians who made Muslims proud
It was a crowning moment for three hard-working Muslim students who were honoured to deliver the valedictory speeches at the graduation ceremonies of the University of Ghana, Legon, for the class of 2024.
Members of the Ghana Muslim Students Association (GMSA), University of Ghana, Legon branch, could not hide their joy for the students who excelled in their chosen field of studies.
On Saturday, the association held a brief ceremony to present citations to the three who were crowned best students in their various departments.
The Ghanaian Minaret delves into the biographies of the outstanding students and presents to you their full speeches at the graduation.
In this Article
Jamal Baba:
Jamal Baba pursued his secondary education at Kadjebi Asato Senior High School (KASEC), where he developed a passion for accounting and economics.
His dedication earned him the Overall Best Student award at KASEC’s 60th Anniversary celebration in his second year.
He also demonstrated leadership skills as the financial secretary of GMSA KASEC in the 2018/2019 academic year.
After excelling in his West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, he was named the Overall Best Male Student in the Oti Region in 2020.
In 2021, Jamal gained admission to the University of Ghana to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration and would specialise in Accounting at Level 300.
He actively co-established a study group to promote peer learning and academic collaboration.
His commitment to excellence resulted in his graduation with First Class Honours and an impressive FGPA of 3.94.
Jamal aspires to build a career in accounting and finance, with a strong interest in becoming a professional data analyst.
He has a deep passion for mathematics and analytical reasoning. Outside academics, he enjoys football and competitive video games.
His academic journey and aspirations reflect perseverance, determination and a drive to make himself and his family proud.
Watch the full video of Jamal Baba’s valedictory speech:
Al-Waasiu Abubakari:
Al-Waasiu Abubakari attended Lassia-Tuolu Senior High School, where he enrolled in the General Science Programme, joining from Year 2 of his Junior High School, which was the African Child International School.
His dedication and passion earned him a spot on the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) team in Year 1, eventually representing his school in the NMSQ 2020 edition.
He graduated as the best WASSCE student in his school and one of the top performers in the Upper West Region.
On January 9, 2021, Al-Waasiu gained admission into the Computer Engineering programme at the University of Ghana, the same day he received the Muslim Intellectuals Network (MIN) Award for Best Graduating Muslim Male Student in the Upper West Region.
Initially aspiring to a medical career, he overcame limited computer experience by leveraging his strong background in mathematics and physics.
Al-Wassiu’’s academic journey at Legon was also marked with excellence.
He won the Alumni Prize for Best Level 200 Student in Sciences in 2022, the Sadhu T.L. Vaswani Award in Level 300 and is graduating with First Class Honours in Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering with a Final Grade Point Average of 3.97.
Al-Wassiu also benefitted from internship opportunities with the System Networks Department of the University’s Information Technology Directorate, Trestle Academy and Africa to Silicon Valley (A2SV), enhancing his skills in network configuration and machine learning, problem-solving and competitive programming.
He also co-led A2SV’s Mobile Development Team and participated in the Google Machine Learning Programme.
Al-Waasiu is passionate about community service and mentoring young learners. He served as a facilitator with the Elsie Effah Kaufmann Foundation and as vice president of the Arm(E3)ngage (arm-ngage) Students Club, where he organised student empowerment activities.
He was also Head of Education at A2SV, ensuring the growth and development of future cohorts, as well as Editorial Assistant for the College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS) Science and Development Journal, reflecting his commitment to knowledge-sharing and academic excellence.
Al-Waasiu Abubakari, who is currently undertaking his National Service assignment with the Department of Computer Engineering, believes that his journey from uncertainty to excellence in computer engineering reflects his resilience and adaptability.
He plans to enhance his knowledge and expertise in machine learning and cloud computing to solve complex real-world problems.
Watch the full video of the valedictory speech of Al-Waasiu Abubakari:
Mariyam Yussif
Mariyam Yussif attended Achimota School, where she studied home economics with electives in biology, economics, food and nutrition and management in living.
She gained admission to the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (Family and Child Studies Option) of the School of Agriculture.
Her interest in pursuing this programme at the University of Ghana was sparked during an outreach session organised by the department at her alma mater.
By dint of hard work, Mariyam excelled in her chosen field, graduating with First Class Honours and a Final Grade Point Average of 3.94.
From a young age, Mariyam embodied a strong passion for improving lives, which began with tutoring children in her neighbourhood.
Her studies and experiences have deepened her understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, fuelling her dedication to inform practices, policies and research that promote holistic development and social justice.
Mariyam exhibited exemplary leadership throughout her academic journey and was an active member of the Family and Consumer Sciences Students’ Association (FACSSA), serving on the Academic Committee in 2022 and the General Assembly in 2023.
She was also the Women’s Commissioner and Chairperson of the 45th Green Week Celebration in 2024.
Beyond academic pursuits, Mariyam contributed to social impact initiatives, including facilitating empowerment sessions for high school girls with Power to Girls Foundation.
Reinforcing the learning obtained from an elective course taken at the Department of Social Work, she joined a team of Master of Social Work students from California State University, Stanislaus, and Savannah State University on the Act Global Initiative, improving access to menstrual products and education in the Afram Plains.
These experiences deepened her understanding of social challenges and strengthened her resolve to drive meaningful change.
Mariyam Yussif, who is currently undertaking her National Service assignment at the Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation, is supporting efforts to eradicate period poverty by enhancing accessibility to menstrual hygiene products and period education.
She plans to further her academic pursuits in gender, development and policy studies.
Watch the full video of the valedictory speech of Mariyam Yussif:
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