KNUST: Former Trotro Mate Becomes Valedictorian, Speaks On Free SHS In Video

KNUST: Former Trotro Mate Becomes Valedictorian, Speaks On Free SHS In Video

  • Bansi Eliasu Yahaya, a 2024 graduate of KNUST, emerged as the valedictorian of the College of Arts and Built Environment
  • He opened up on his struggle and the hurdles he overcame in his quest to pursue university education
  • Ghanaians congratulated Bansi Eliasu Yahaya for his achievement and wished him well in future endeavours

Bansi Eliasu Yahaya has inspired many people after he rose from being a bus conductor popularly known in local parlance as trotro mate to a Valedictorian at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

His crowning moment came at the 58th congregation of KNUST, where he was adjudged the best-graduating student at the College of Arts and Built Environment with a Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) of 81.04 in BSc. Real Estate.

KNUST Graduation, 2024 Graduation, Best Student, Valedictorian, Education In Ghana, Real Estate, Universities In Ghana.
Bansi Eliasu Yahaya, a KNUST Valedictorian opens up on his humble beginnings. Photo Credit: @voice_of_knust
Source: Twitter

In a video sighted by YEN.com.gh on the YouTube page of Voice Of KNUST, the Bawku SHS alumnus reminisced on his humble beginnings in a village in Tampane District in the Upper East Region and explained that he remains the only person in his family to attain university education.

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He explained that due to financial constraints, financing his education became a challenge, a move that forced him to take up jobs such as selling second-hand clothes during his basic school days.

"In my second and third years at Bawku SHS, I was not able to pay fees, so it was after I completed school and came to the southern sector to work in 2019 that I gained money to pay for my fees and take school results. I didn't enjoy the free education system. It was two years after I went to school that they introduced the free education policy."

Despite excelling in the WASSCE, Bansi Elias Yahaya found raising money to pay his fees a challenge, so he needed to find alternative ways of survival.

"At a point, I came to the South to work. I was involved in Galamsey, but along the way, I stopped. I then worked as a trotro mate, and that is how I was able to raise money to pay for my admission."

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Trotro mate encourages university graduates to join him: "Forget the gentility"

He appreciated some lecturers and students who supported him immensely in completing his university education.

After bagging a first degree, Bansi Eliasu Yahaya is poised to further his education and would relish the opportunity to study abroad.

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Ghanaians celebrate Bansi Eliasu Yahaya

Social media users took to social media to celebrate Bansi Eliasu Yahaya's academic success.

@afsts_knust indicated:

"Very inspiring!"

@CccorpLib added:

"Congratulations well deserved."

@GrahamJunior599 reacted:

"From Galamsey boy to Valedictorian. Incredible, this is fairy tale stuff!"

Young man emerges valedictorian at KNUST

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Laurent Sessi graduated as the 2024 best student of KNUST's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

He was the valedictorian with an impressive CWA of 82.14.

Several social media users congratulated Laurent Sessi on his achievement at KNUST and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Proofread by Samuel Gitonga, Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh

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Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Philip Boateng Kessie avatar

Philip Boateng Kessie (Human-Interest editor) Philip Boateng Kessie started writing for YEN.com.gh in 2022 and is the Head of the Human Interest desk. He has over six years of experience in journalism and graduated from the University of Cape Coast in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies. Philip previously served as a reporter for Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) and as a content writer for Scooper News. He has a certificate in Google News Initiative News Lab courses in Advanced Digital Reporting and Fighting Misinformation. Email: philip.kessie@yen.com.gh.