Dream comes true... Olivia Agbenyeke now a medical doctor

Dr Olivia Agbenyeke was among the medical students who graduated from the University of Ghana Medical School on November 15, 2019.

Dr Agbenyeke in particular made the headlines because of her unique story. Her dream of becoming a medical doctor was nearly shattered because of the financial challenges her parents faced.

But thanks to a publication carried in the Daily Graphic six years ago, her aspirations were rekindled, as the publication yielded the expected results — a company came forward to pick up the cost of her training.

Last Thursday, a cheerful Dr Agbenyeke visited the offices of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), in the company of her father and the writer of the said publication, Mr Edmund Kofi Yeboah, who is now the General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), to say “thank you”.

The Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Kobby Asmah, and some sub-editors, received her with equal cheer and excitement.

Appreciation

Dr Agbenyeke presented a citation with a heartfelt message to the management and staff of the GCGL to show her appreciation.

“When my hope had faded and dream was shattered, you revived them with a singular act that has made me a member of the noble medical profession,” she read out part of the citation.

 “The publication of my predicament in the April 11, 2013 edition of your flagship newspaper, the Daily Graphic, brought instant results in the form of scholarship for my medical education. That timely intervention you made has made me a medical doctor today, a dream that seemed lost six years ago,” she added.

While acknowledging other forms of impact the company had made through various publications, she said: “Over the years, you have made similar impact in the lives of needy, brilliant students, but I count myself the most blessed among them because your intervention in my life is immeasurable.”

Plans

She said while waiting to undertake her housemanship, she had already taken up a voluntary job at a hospital in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region to serve society.

Having completed her six-year course in General Medicine, Dr Agbenyeke said, she was gearing up to specialise as a Paediatric Neurosurgeon to help children with brain issues.

“I love children so much and I believe that one way to help them is relieve them of the pain if you can and make them smile again through your work,” she said.

Father’s comment

Dr Agbenyeke’s equally proud father, Mr David Agbenyeke, speaking in  his native tongue, Ewe, expressed his profound gratitude to the GCGL for the effort which had made him the father of a medical doctor.

Thank you very much; but for your efforts, I would not have got the money to sponsor my daughter’s education and her dream would have been shattered, he stated.

“We are proud of you”

Mr Asmah commended Dr Agbenyeke for making everyone who supported her proud.

“We are proud of you for going through your education and coming out successfully. You did not take for granted the scholarship given to you but worked hard and made everyone proud,” he said.

He urged her to see the completion of her education as the first step in life, saying that “it is what you do after completion that will make an impact on society”.

“Society expects more from you and so pay your dues by rendering to society what is expected of you,” he advised.

Considering the number of vulnerable groups in the country, he said, more needed to be done by individuals and corporate organisations to support them.

Mr Asmah reiterated the GCGL’s commitment to continue to support the vulnerable through its Graphic Needy Fund.

Background

Olivia Agbenyeke obtained 7As and one B2 from the Keta Senior High Technical School (KETASCO) in the Volta Region in the 2013 WASSCE.

However, due to financial challenges, she could not continue to the university but stayed home for a year, during which she worked in her father’s drinking spot, with the hope of raising money to pursue her education.

One of her teachers at KETASCO, Mr Foga Nukunu, contacted Mr Yeboah, then a reporter with the Daily Graphic, to write and publish Olivia’s story to garner financial support for the realisation of her dream.

Following the publication, Phoenix Life Assurance went to her rescue and sponsored her six-year education at the University of Ghana.