Keziah Naomesi: The Power of Seeking Help

Akoben: Stories of Impact. Tales of Courage is a series that speaks about the power of education as a tool for transformative change in the world. They are told through the lens of Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni. Here is Keziah’s story.

When Keziah Naomesi completed high school in her home country of Ghana, her educational future was at risk as financial resources to pursue further studies were limited. Things changed when a friend of hers who was studying at Ashesi University encouraged her to apply to the institution. When Keziah and her family received the news that she was admitted with a fully-funded scholarship to study mechanical engineering, they were overjoyed.

The start of Keziah’s first year was academically challenging, but by the second year, her grades had improved. She soon settled into the course and worked on interesting projects, including phototherapy for babies with jaundice at Ridge Hospital, Accra. Beyond her academic pursuits, Keziah has taken on leadership roles as the finance manager for the Student Energy Club and the athletics committee at Ashesi University. She has also established a flourishing makeup business known as Kiki’s Makeover. Her advice to Scholars is to embrace the journey and seek assistance when needed.

Incoming Scholars should use the resources in the school and rush for help if they need it. They should have a cordial relationship with the career service, the ODIP and the SLE. Through this I got to be a resident assistant to help provide a conducive environment for student living. They should also reach out to their lecturers. They have so much knowledge and can open doors for us. I got an internship with the engineering department over the summer through my cordial relationship with an engineering lecturer.”

Keziah encourages prospective Scholars to be authentic and approach their educational path with a sincere desire to learn and grow, rather than solely pursuing a scholarship opportunity for its own sake.

Keziah attributed a lot of her success to her unwavering support system. Her family’s motivation, the camaraderie she shares with the friends she found at Ashesi, and the guidance of her mentor from career services at the university collectively fuel her drive to overcome obstacles and persevere. Keziah also underscores the significance of the resources available to her at Ashesi, which have played a pivotal role in empowering her to push boundaries, excel academically, and make meaningful contributions to her community.

Read more stories from the Akoben series