AFRICA | A brilliant African man named Otuo Serebour Opoku-Ware moved from being an arts major to becoming the overall best graduating student at the Kwame Nkrumah University’s College of Engineering in Ghana.
His remarkable achievement is scholarly not only because he earned a staggering Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) of 86.75, but also because he completed 60 courses, took 151 credit hours, and secured an outstanding 57 A’s and just 3 B’s, record that reflects exceptional mastery and academic excellence.
Otuo's Story and How He Did It
Otuo’s journey began at Gilead Academy, then Opoku-Ware School (OWASS), where he studied General Arts with electives in Economics, Geography, Government, and Elective Mathematics.
He excelled academically, finishing WASSCE with seven A’s and a B2. Yet, despite the strength of his humanities background, something was missing, he felt a pull toward engineering, a field traditionally dominated by science students.
But dreams do not always arrive fully formed. Otuo admits he started off without direction: “I had no clear path, no defined ambition — just uncertainty,;; he said.
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Driven by a budding passion for problem-solving, he took a bold step many would consider impossible. He returned to study Physics and Chemistry at Elite College, two subjects essential for engineering.
Starting from behind was challenging, but he persevered. After passing the prerequisites, he proceeded to KNUST, where he spent a year teaching and exploring software engineering.
These experiences sharpened his discipline and deepened his resolve. When Otuo finally entered the Civil Engineering programme at KNUST, his life changed forever.
He topped his class every single year—first year to final year—and won the title of Overall Best Student in the College of Engineering twice before eventually emerging Valedictorian of the Class of 2025.
He enrolled for 60 courses (151 credit hours), scoring 57 A’s, 3 B’s, straight A’s in Level 100, Level 200, and Level 400, and recorded the highest score of 99 in multiple courses, with his lowest score being 69.
These numbers tell a story of consistency, skill, and deep intellectual mastery, proof of a student who not only worked hard but understood the weight of the dream he carried.
Despite his intense academic load, Otuo remained active on campus.
He served as Chair of the Trade and Technology Committee, Member of the Academic Executive Board of the Civil Engineering Students’ Association, and a volunteer tutor for students retaking courses.
Celebrating his achievement on LinkedIn, as Valedictorian of the KNUST College of Engineering, and possibly the first Civil Engineering student to earn that honour, Otuo describes the moment as surreal.
“My journey didn’t begin in science… I wandered through uncertainty until purpose began to form,;” he said.
He speaks candidly about the doubts, the long nights, the difficult courses, and the voices that questioned whether a General Arts student could thrive in Engineering. Yet he pushed forward, fuelled by faith, discipline, and the unwavering support of his family and mentors.
He credits his success to God and reminds others that greatness starts from daring to dream boldly.
Otuo’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the beauty of unconventional paths. His life shows that where you start does not limit where you can go—and even a student from the humanities can rise to the summit of engineering excellence.
Dare to dream big. Believe boldly. Work relentlessly. Trust the process — even when it feels slow or lonely,” he said.
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