Oteng Richard

My name is Oteng Richard, a graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. Although I was born and raised in Techimantia in the Ahafo Region of Ghana, my family hails from Konglomo, a village in the Upper West Region of Ghana. My journey through education has been shaped by determination, resilience, and a strong desire to succeed despite financial challenges.

From my early years in primary school through to senior high school, I consistently excelled academically and was recognized as the overall best student. My passion for learning earned me admission to KNUST, where I pursued my undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering with great enthusiasm. However, three months before I began my university education, I lost my father, which created significant financial difficulties for me.

As a result, I had to find ways to support myself through school. At certain points, I engaged in small-scale mining (galamsey) to raise funds for my tuition and accommodation. Despite these challenges, I remained committed to my education and successfully progressed through my studies.

After my second year, I faced a major setback when I could no longer afford to return to school due to financial constraints. During this difficult time, a friend of mine who learned about my situation introduced me to TheresahMary foundation. Through the generosity and vision of the foundation’s CEO, Mr. Clement  Nana Yaw Amponsah, I was awarded a scholarship that covered my academic and accommodation expenses for the remainder of my university education.

The support I received from the foundation was life-changing. It not only enabled me to complete my undergraduate degree, but also restored my hope and strengthened my belief in the power of opportunity and support. I am deeply grateful for the investment the foundation made in my future, and it has inspired me to strive for excellence and give back to society.

Today, with my strong analytical thinking, commuincation, problem-solving and programming skills,  I am eager to further my education in data science and build a career that will allow me to solve real-world problems and contribute meaningfully to my community and beyond.