Edmond Owusu defies cerebral palsy disability to emerge as the Outstanding Student of the Year
When Edmond Owusu, who has had cerebral palsy since birth, won the Outstanding Student of the Year award at the 2021 graduation ceremony of the OpenLabs Ghana (previously NIIT), an information technology institution, members of an ecstatic family couldn’t hold back their tears.
Edmond took a professional course in software engineering at the OpenLabs Ghana in Accra in 2018 after graduating from Senior High School (SHS) four years earlier.
He completed the program with flying colours, much to the astonishment of his mother and twin brother, who had assumed that his disability would prevent him from progressing.
Edmond had developed two application software on his own by the end of his program: Virtual pay, a payment platform, and Tredhost, a hosting service.
These two applications earned him recognition from the school’s management and other parents.
The win also brought delight to the 21-year-old IT geek family, who, despite his health problems, fought the odds and overcame social and economic barriers to realize his dream of becoming a computer programmer.
Edmond who was happy about the milestone chalked acknowledged God for bringing him far.
“It is not by might but by the grace of God. I thank you all for the love you have shown me,” he acknowledged.
Meanwhile, Edmond’s mother, Ms Joyce Addy Laryea, told the Daily Graphic after the ceremony that she initially did not back his son’s desire to take the IT course due to his health.
“I didn’t support his decision at the beginning because of how challenging it was for him to complete SHS. Before I could say, Jack, he had used his own savings to buy the admission forms. That proved to me that he was determined.
“I could not afford his admission fees because I am raising five other siblings in addition to him. So we approached the school and appealed to them and they agreed to do a special arrangement for us,” she added.
Ms Joyce Addy Laryea in a joyful moment of Edmond’s breakthrough also praised God for His mercies.
“I stand here today as a proud mother. People look down on him but he is the one who has brought joy to this family,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr Sujith Jayaprakash, the Director of OpenLabs Ghana, characterized Edmond as an “outstanding student” in a separate interview, saying that the institute was delighted to have had the opportunity to help him realize his potential.
“A lot of companies want to recruit him but Edmond is interested in doing his undergraduate.
“I appeal to the universities to identify this talented kid, and then give him the opportunity to pursue a degree so that he can progress further,” he advised.
In all, a total of 70 students graduated at the event.
Source: Richard Mensah Adonu | Join our Telegram Group
