Our Award Winners Excel at University of Ghana

“THIS is terrific news. I am super pleased for these two young ladies and I salute them for coming out with flying colours at the end of their four-year degree programme at the University of Ghana (UG).”

This was the immediate reaction of Canadian-based Miss Eleanor Louise Webb, Founder of the Webb of Excellence Awards Scheme, when the news of the remarkable achievements of Juliet Nuerki Annang and Nyemignor Korkor Okai, maiden beneficiaries of her Tertiary Support Scheme, was broken to her on phone.

The two ladies graduated at the University of Ghana on Saturday, January 27, 2024, with Juliet Annang obtaining a First Class in Biochemistry and Cell Molecular Biology while Nyemignor Okai had a Second Class Upper in the same course.

And what a day it was for the two graduands. For six good hours – between 10am to about 4pm – their proud parents, family members, friends and, of course, representatives of the Webb of Excellence Awards Scheme, thronged the campus of the University of Ghana, Legon, to celebrate the former science students of Ada Senior High School for their excellence.

In a congratulatory message to the two ladies, Dr Gabriel Ofoe Canacoo, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Webb of Excellence Awards Scheme, said “You were full of promise from your days at the Ada Senior High School. And, today, you have fully justified the trust and confidence we reposed in you.

“In 2019, when we decided to confer this award, we were thinking of only one person but there was very little to choose between the two of you so we had no choice but to extent the financial support to both of you and we are glad you did not let us down,” the chairman added.

In response, the two ladies also expressed their sincere gratitude to the Founder and the Board for the immense role played in shaping their education. Juliet, on her part, said, “I’d like to express my deepest gratitude for your incredible support in sponsoring my education. Your generousity has not only shaped my academic journey but also set the foundation for a brighter future”.

Nyemignor also had this to say: “My heartfelt appreciation to Miss Louise Webb for her compassion and tremendous generousity. Her unwavering support and care have been a source of great encouragement. I’m also grateful to the Board of Trustees of the Award Scheme for igniting a sense of determination in me.

“Indeed, their belief in my potential became my strength, propelling me forward with the knowledge that others had absolute faith in my ability to succeed. I am immensely grateful for their belief in me and I had no reason to disappoint. Their support has been a driving force in my academic journey and I will, forever, be grateful,” she stressed.

Both ladies are currently undergoing their National Service at the University of Ghana – Juliet is at West Africa Centre for Cell Biology and Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) while Nyemignor is attached to the University of Ghana Biochemistry Department as a Teaching Assistant. The Service ends in August, 2024.

Asked what her plans were for the immediate future, Juliet said: “My priority is to gain admission into the Medical School – either in Ghana or elsewhere. As a graduate, my entry point will be Level 200 so I will finish the course in 5 years, instead of the normal 7 years. The only snag is that in Ghana, for instance, the fee is around Ghc12,000 annually and unless I get some form of sponsorship, it will be very difficult for me to translate my dream into reality.

“Alternatively, I could pursue my Masters in Molecular and Cell Biology. That would take 3 years. But here too, I would need some financial support because my parents (her father is a retired carpenter and her mother, a petty trader) can’t afford the huge fees. I hear some universities in Canada, US and Germany do offer scholarships for full PhD in that field and I’m determined to seek such an opportunity,” Juliet added.

Nyemignor, on her part, said: “I am passionate about understanding the genetic and epigenetic factors underlying diseases like cancer in Africa and exploring innovative technologies for solutions. This has greatly been understood in most developed countries but there is a huge gap when we come to Africa.

“Hopefully, I want to pursue a PhD in Genetics outside the country and apply the knowledge that I acquire in contributing to solving this predicament,” she added with a smile.

No wonder, both ladies have great dreams. And given their determination, dedication and discipline, we have no doubt, whatsoever, that they will succeed.