
Hamdia Issahaku has emerged as the Best Female Graduating Student at the University for Development Studies (UDS) School of Nursing and Midwifery, marking a significant milestone in a journey defined by resilience. Her academic achievement comes after years of navigating profound personal and financial challenges that threatened her ability to complete her tertiary education. Issahaku is currently fulfilling her mandatory National Service at the Tema General Hospital, where she continues to apply the clinical skills that earned her the top spot among her female peers.
Issahaku’s path to excellence was complicated by the death of her mother and a serious accident involving her brother, events that left her family in a precarious financial state. To fund her early semesters, she balanced a rigorous nursing curriculum with campus entrepreneurship, selling body splash and other personal care products to fellow students. This self-reliance allowed her to stay in school during her most difficult periods, demonstrating a level of determination that preceded her eventual academic recognition.
A critical turning point in her journey occurred when she secured the MTN Bright Scholarship. The scholarship provided the financial stability she lacked, covering tuition and other essential costs, which allowed her to shift her primary focus back to her studies. This support proved to be the catalyst for her academic surge, enabling her to excel in her nursing and midwifery coursework and ultimately secure the title of the best female graduate in the department.
Beyond her professional dedication to healthcare, Issahaku maintains her entrepreneurial spirit by running a small beverage business alongside her service at the Tema General Hospital. Her story has been highlighted as a testament to the impact of corporate scholarship programs in Ghana, illustrating how targeted financial support can help high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds reach their full potential while contributing to the nation's healthcare sector.