In a truly remarkable achievement, Viemens Bamfo, a 12-year-old boy from Akyem-Oda in Ghana’s Eastern Region, has gained admission to the prestigious University of Ghana, Legon. Bamfo, who was home-schooled by his father, Robert Bamfo, after completing his lower primary education, has been admitted to pursue a diploma in Public Administration through the university’s Distance Education program. His achievement has made him the youngest student among over 2,900 freshmen who were matriculated for the 2019/2020 academic year.
An Unconventional Path to Education
Viemens’ educational journey has been anything but typical. Unlike most children his age, who are still in junior high or early stages of secondary school, Viemens was home-schooled. His father took it upon himself to personally educate Viemens and his older brother, combining the Cambridge and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) syllabi. The results were nothing short of extraordinary, with Viemens passing the WASSCE as a private candidate and now enrolling in one of Ghana’s top universities at the age of 12.
Robert Bamfo, the boy’s father, explained his approach to home-schooling as one that focused on skill-building and independent learning. His teaching method emphasized dictionary skills, phonetics, and vocabulary development, as well as a textbook-centered approach to science education. “What I teach first is dictionary skills, so the child is able to pronounce every word correctly. We do the phonetic skills, and once that is done, I teach Latin for vocabulary development,” Robert explained in an interview.
This hands-on approach prepared Viemens not only for academic challenges but also for the broader complexities of education. His ability to absorb and apply complex information at such a young age is a testament to his father’s dedication and Viemens’ own intellectual curiosity.
A Family of Academic Achievers
Viemens is not the only academic star in his family. His elder brother, Edwin Bamfo, graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as an Environmental Scientist at the age of 20, also having been home-schooled by their father. The Bamfo family’s unique approach to education has clearly borne fruit, with both sons achieving academic success well ahead of their peers.
In addition to his academic achievements, Viemens has grand ambitions for the future. Speaking to journalists after his matriculation ceremony, he expressed his desire to further his studies up to the doctoral level and ultimately become the President of Ghana by the age of 40. “I want to lift high the flag of Ghana and make Ghana a truly independent country like China, the US, and Britain,” Viemens confidently declared.
Embracing University Life
While Viemens’ admission to the University of Ghana marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in his academic journey, it also comes with challenges. As a distance education student, much of his learning will take place online, with state-of-the-art facilities such as smart classrooms and video conferencing available to support his education. According to Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah, Provost of the College of Humanities, the university’s investment in technology aims to ensure that distance students have a robust and interactive learning experience.
Viemens is optimistic about his studies and is keen to embrace the opportunities that university life will offer, even if it is through a non-traditional distance-learning format. His pursuit of Public Administration is a stepping stone toward his long-term goal of leadership and public service, which he hopes will enable him to make a lasting impact on his country.
An Inspiration to Young Ghanaians
At only 12 years old, Viemens Bamfo’s story is one of determination, hard work, and the power of non-traditional education. His academic success has already garnered national attention, with many viewing him as a symbol of what can be achieved when students are provided with the right tools and encouragement. Viemens stands as an inspiration not only to young Ghanaians but also to children around the world who dream of achieving greatness, regardless of the obstacles they face.
In a country where access to quality education remains a challenge for many, Viemens’ success story offers hope and motivation to countless young people. His journey, fueled by the support of his family and the innovative home-schooling methods of his father, demonstrates that age is no barrier to academic success and that the pursuit of knowledge has the power to transform lives.
As Viemens begins this exciting new chapter in his life, the world will undoubtedly watch in anticipation to see where his academic journey and leadership ambitions will take him.
Odili Precious, a remarkable young woman, has made headlines with her outstanding academic achievements. Graduating with a first-class degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Nigeria, Precious was also honored with the title of Best Graduating Student in her department. Her journey is a story of hard work, perseverance, and an unwavering dedication to academic excellence.
Precious took to LinkedIn to celebrate her achievement, sharing her excitement about earning a Bachelor of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering with first-class honors. “The icing on the cake is that I graduated with FIRST CLASS HONORS and as the Best Graduating Female Student in the Petroleum Engineering class of 2021/2022,” she proudly stated.
Her success did not come easily, but it was built on years of consistent academic excellence. Precious revealed that she had always maintained an outstanding academic record since childhood. In primary school, she graduated with distinction, emerging as the overall best pupil with eleven awards, including Best in Mathematics, Best in Science Subjects, and Best Behaved Pupil. She continued her stellar performance through secondary school, where she cleared all her Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects with A grades.
Her drive for success and determination to leave a lasting legacy were evident even before entering university. Her impressive JAMB and Post-JAMB scores earned her a merit-based admission into the Petroleum Engineering department at FUTO. Once in the university, Precious didn’t just aim for high grades; she actively sought to understand complex concepts, develop problem-solving skills, and find innovative solutions to challenges. Click here to continue reading about Odili Precious.
