AFRICA | A brilliant 19-year-old man named Isaac Otiti made history as the youngest valedictorian of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, after graduating with a first-class degree in Computer Engineering.
Isaac’s journey to this achievement began in 2021, when he enrolled in KNUST at the remarkable age of 15. Over the course of his studies, he sat for eight semesters of examinations across 55 courses, maintaining academic excellence.
He scored an “A” in all 55 papers, never earning a single “B.” His record-breaking performance culminated in a Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) of 87.23, making him the overall best student in his faculty and at the university for the class of 2024.
Isaac Story and How He Did It
Isaac’s story is not just about academic excellence but also a testimony of resilience. As a child, he suffered from sudden hearing loss that left him confused and isolated for almost a year.
After countless hospital visits and the unwavering prayers of his family, his hearing returned, giving him a second chance at life and learning.
“We kept on praying and hoping it would go, and miraculously, it all went as I was entering primary two. Though it wasn’t perfect, it was better,” Isaac recalled in an interview with Joy News.
In 2017, his family relocated to Ghana, where he enrolled at Seven Great Princes Academy in Accra. And true to his kind, Isaac graduated as the best student of his year group.
Sharing his achievement on LinkedIn, Isaac said initially, he was drawn to medicine, but eventually found his passion in computer engineering, a field that fascinated him with its problem-solving and innovation potential.
From his first year at KNUST, where he earned a CWA of 84.06, Isaac worked tirelessly to score a higher grade every semester. By graduation, his 55/55 “A” record stood as proof of his discipline and drive.
Beyond academics, Isaac was also involved in extracurricular activities, competing in table tennis tournaments and playing chess, which he balanced well, causing no distraction for his academics. Reflecting on his accomplishment, Isaac wrote:
“I worked tirelessly, semester after semester, until I achieved the CWA of 87.23. Through it all, I learned the value of hard work, collaboration, and most importantly, the joy of sharing knowledge with others.”
As he looks ahead, Isaac remains grounded in humility. He hopes his story serves as an inspiration to young Africans everywhere.
“To my younger self and to anyone reading this: Dream big, stay curious, and embrace the process, because every step shapes the person you are becoming,” he said.
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