By Nutor Bibini Nutor
A 21-year-old Ghanaian, Miss Souad Yakubu, has brought pride to Ghana after graduating with Magna Cum Laude honours in Computer Science, with a minor in Data Science, from Calvin University — a prestigious university in the United States.
The young scholar, whose academic journey began in Ghana, distinguished herself in one of the world’s most demanding and rapidly evolving fields: Artificial Intelligence and software development.
A Challenging but Rewarding Journey
Speaking to journalist Nutor Bibini Nutor of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation on her graduation day, Miss Yakubu described her academic journey as both demanding and fulfilling. According to her, studying Computer Science and Data Science required exceptional discipline, consistency, and hard work.
“Computer Science and Data Science are fields where you constantly have to learn, practise, and solve problems,” she said. Beyond classroom studies and long nights of academic work, Souad immersed herself in leadership, research, mentoring, and technical projects that broadened her experience and sharpened her skills.
University faculty members attributed her outstanding success to her academic excellence, leadership qualities, and commitment to service.
While at Calvin University, she served as a teaching assistant and mentored younger students through the Girls Who Code programme. She also served as Computer Science Chair of the National Society of Black Engineers.
In addition, Souad contributed to research on TextFocals, a human-centred AI writing assistant, and co-chaired a paper presented at HAI-GEN 2024, which explored how technology shapes learning and human engagement.
From Humble Beginnings to Academic Excellence
Although born in Accra, Souad traces her roots to Damongo and Kpembe in Ghana’s Savannah Region. Reflecting on her journey, she described graduating with distinction in Computer Science and Data Science as both humbling and inspiring.
One of her proudest achievements during her studies was the development of a multilingual voice assistant designed to support visually impaired users.
According to her, the project represents more than academic success; it reflects the values she developed throughout her journey — resilience, teamwork, consistency, and perseverance in the face of challenges.
She acknowledged that the path was far from easy.
“There were many challenges along the way. Reaching this point feels both fulfilling and motivating. At the same time, it reminds me of the support I received from my family, professors, mentors, and friends throughout the journey,” she noted.
Inspired by a Personal Experience
Souad revealed that her passion for Artificial Intelligence and accessibility technology was inspired by a deeply personal experience.
As a child, she dreamed of becoming a pilot because of her fascination with aeroplanes and the mystery of flight. However, her interests gradually shifted toward technology and innovation. Her decision to pursue Computer Science became even more meaningful after a close family member lost his sight, dramatically affecting his independence and daily life.
That experience motivated her to explore how Artificial Intelligence and software engineering could improve accessibility and support persons living with disabilities. “That experience made me think deeply about how technology could help people live more independently. It became my biggest motivation for pursuing Computer Science and Data Science,” she explained.
She added that this inspiration ultimately led to the creation of her multilingual voice assistant project for visually impaired users.
Looking Ahead
An alumna of Wesley Girls’ High School, where she studied General Science before travelling abroad for further education, Souad hopes to build a career in software engineering and Artificial Intelligence.
She expressed particular interest in developing AI-driven systems that solve real-world problems and improve accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Souad also envisions a future dedicated to continuous learning, professional growth, and meaningful contributions to humanity through technology.
Above all, she hopes her story will inspire young girls — especially those from underprivileged backgrounds — to dream big, pursue excellence, and become agents of positive change in society.
