• Ismail Ayuss just graduated from the University for Development Studies (UDS)
  • He was part of the over 7000 students that gowned-up for the 23rd graduation ceremony of the University
  • His unmissable photo of excitement captured after the ceremony is deemed by many as the most captivating photo of the 2023 graduation
  • Below is his story

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I have quite an interesting story from the university – I entered the university 2 years after graduating from senior high school as the second-best student from my class group.
Interestingly, as it was, I didn’t want to belong in the classroom and wanted a more definite future that wouldn’t be dependent on an academic curriculum. Beyond things, we can control, I had two admissions in 2018 – UDS and KNUST to study Accounting and Business Administration respectively, where I settled for Accounting and Finance at UDS.
I started the first trimester prioritizing learning graphic design and writing and performing poems at every event on campus rather than attending lectures – where I ended the trimester with a poor start of 3.97 out of 5. As a son of a furious Dad who believes his children should belong to the top 1% of a class. We had a manly conversation that challenged me to do it, while I’m in it already.
That didn’t stop me from my Poetry and graphic design career, it only cushioned me to be serious with my academic work too.
In all 4 years, I have been an active student politician who petitioned the SRC at the court for conducting a terrible faculty rep election in my first year; that was how hard I was even as a level 100 student. I grew to serve my hall JCR, Regional NUGS, the debate society, external organizations, and ultimately the SRC Public Relations Officer (a very challenging role) in my final year.
Oh! I almost forgot I organized a paid poetry event on campus in my level 200 – “Meat and Geet” with Ayuss and also championed the Mastermind Campus Super league (an annual soccer league for UDS WA students that runs through the first trimester and second trimester) in my third and fourth year– that tells you I was an all-rounder.
It’s 4 years already, and it seemed so fast, from an amateur designer to one of the best graphic designers on campus where I successfully trained over 70 students in digital skills’ acquisition in a partnership with NONIHUB and the SRC.
Outside the university, I won the Coalition for Positive Impact’s Igniting Dreams Business Pitch in 2020 where I received a cash prize, and in the university, I was part of the 3 finalists that represented the UDS Wa Campus in a business pitch later that year.
On Saturday 29th April 2023, I didn’t only graduate with a very good class, I graduated as part of the top 1% of the BSc. Accounting and Finance class. I am grateful to a lot of people, if I’m to mention names, this short note will become a booklet – every interaction we had is a positivity to who I am today.
I am leaving university as a BSC Accounting and Finance graduate and the Founder of Dlight Space; a fast-growing digital creative agency that creates delightful experiences for brands to stand out through our compelling branding and marketing services.
In all of these, I have learned, and it will definitely cushion me in the next adventure I am flying into already. Beyond me and my loved ones, there is God, who made all these possible.
From yours truly, the flying boy

Ismail Ayuss

Congrats

We wish Developer Ismail all the best in his path after school.