Valedictorian of the October 2023 graduating cohort at Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Bright Kwame Boadu, is calling on affluent individuals and families to extend their generosity and aid brilliant but financially needy students in realizing their aspirations and contributing to societal development.

Boadu, whose university education was generously funded by businessman and philanthropist Alhaji Seidu Agongo, achieved a cumulative weighted average (CWA) of 78.88, making him the top graduate among 1,104 students from the KNUST College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Having been retained by the college as a teaching assistant for his national service, Boadu is pursuing further education with aspirations to become a renowned animal scientist.

Reflecting on his journey, he shared with the media that without Alhaji Agongo's intervention, he might have either performed poorly or deferred his program due to limited resources.

As the son of a single parent, Boadu emphasized that many students face similar challenges, and the benevolence of wealthy Ghanaians and corporate institutions could empower them to excel.

“But for Alhaji Agongo, I can say I will not have been here as the valedictorian of my graduating group. Before I met him, I was trekking to school and combining studies with extra classes so that I could raise money to feed and pay for books. These weighed heavily on my performance,” the Bachelor of Agriculture graduate said.

“But when he came through and took up all my expenses – fees, hostel, feeding and upkeep – I stopped the extra classes and put my all on books and I saw my grades improving,” said.

Mr. Boadu further urged society to consider the circumstances of the young people before judging their performance, pointing out that while he had potential, his circumstances ran the risk of hiding it.

“People are really struggling and there are a lot of brilliant people out there who need some small push to shine. Unfortunately, people care more about themselves than a better society but we should learn to share more and it will bring big changes to people's lives and our society,” he said.

“If people are not performing, it could be finance or something because there are problems. Like my situation, if not for Alhaji Agongo’s intervention, I could have had second class and or even lower people would have said I am not serious meanwhile the truth is that was sacrificing my CWA to make ends meet,” he said.

Alhaji Agongo, the founder of the defunct Heritage Bank Limited, was earlier characterized by Mr. Boadu as a quiet philanthropist whose kindness has transformed countless lives and realized dreams.

Additionally, he urged his fellow graduates to remember that success is a multifaceted journey and not to become fixated on grades or results.

“You will define it, and no one will ever belittle you again. Success will emanate from your inner compass of decency and purpose,” he said.

He also gave praise to Gifty Boakye, claiming that she was the one who first found him and paid for his education before introducing him to Alhaji Agongo.

As part of his studies, Mr. Boadu said he became interested in animal feed, especially for poultry, and that his goal going forward would be to create a less expensive, more nutrient-dense feed source than the system's current one, which is derived from maize.

“The price of the feed of the birds is escalating and that is collapsing many farms across the country. I want to explore alternatives to maize, which the poultry competes for with humans, and I am hopeful that I can develop something mega using cassava,” he said.

He said as part of his project work, he researched on how to use cassava to develop the feed and was now working on securing scholarship for a master degree during which he would expand the research further.

Call to the bar

In October, another benefactor of Alhaji Agongo, Frederick Agaaya Adongo, was called to the bar after successfully completing the law progamme and passing the bar exam, which the philanthropist funded.

The latest add to a tall list of students that the founder of the Class Media Group supports on the quiet.

He adopted and sponsored the education of 81 students in the St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Accra through to various tertiary schools nation-wide.

In 2019, the Muslim philanthropist constructed a 30-bed block at a cost of GH¢857,000 for the Child Emergency Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (K’Bu) in Accra.

Alhaji Agongo has also donated sewing machines, tools for various artisans and start-up capitals to people, mostly single mothers, widows and persons with disability, across the country as part of a personal resolve to build a better society.

He is currently coordinating list of needy people affected by the Akosombo Dam spillage for support.