At the 13th congregation of about one thousand students at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Ali Inusah, broke the silver lining to emerge a first-class student with a B.Sc. Accounting.
Despite being from a less privileged home as a ‘cowboy’, he did not let his present circumstances deter him.
As the valedictorian on behalf of his fellow grandaunts, Ali acknowledged the significant investment made in his life by the Citi Opportunity Project on Education (COPE) and a scholarship from the UPSA.
According to Inusah, there are many underprivileged children with distinct knowledge like him that needed a push, and he used the occasion to encourage the public to support such children in their own small ways.
Sharing his life’s journey with Citi News, Ali said “life was not rosy as a son of a herdsman” as he had to return to taking care of his father’s cattle when all hope was lost after scoring aggregate seven in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Exams from the Wesley Grammar School.
“My brother came home with joy telling me he met Umaru Sanda (broadcast journalist with Citi FM/TV) and he handed over my results to him. I didn’t believe him, but reality dawned on me when Prof. Abednego Okoe Amartey from the UPSA called, and he offered me a scholarship”.
“I became the first beneficiary of the Vice Chancellor’s Endowment Fund, which catered fully for my tuition fees. Bernard Avle and Umaru helped me to further get a scholarship from the Citi Opportunity Project on Education (COPE) which catered for my hostel fees”.
He added that, “but for this scholarship, I won’t have stood here today to deliver this valedictorian speech.”
He quoted the Quran Chapter 2:286 “Allah does not burden a soul beyond which he can bear” as the inspiration that has brought him this far.
Speaking on behalf of the management of Citi FM and Citi TV, Umaru Sanda Amadu, who discovered Ali Inusah, said he’s happy Inusah proved himself worthy of the support offered him.
Umaru who was teary at a point hearing Ali, whom he described as a “jewel found in the bush”, said “it was a miraculous encounter”.
The UPSA in a profile brief stated that, Ali “developed virtues of discipline, consistency and perseverance which have aided him to get this far”.
The graduating students came from various backgrounds including Accounting and Finance, Banking and Finance, Actuarial Science, and Diploma in Accounting.
