Nigerian Student Emerges Valedictorian at University of Ghana

Funmi Ogundare

A Nigerian student, Mofiyinfoluwa Samuel, has been named the best graduating student (BGS) and valedictorian of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Ghana, having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in French and Linguistics with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.95.

Samuel’s feat reflects a consistent record of academic excellence, leadership and global engagement throughout her undergraduate years.

Speaking with THISDAY, Samuel recalled that her passion for languages began at the age of seven, inspired by her French tutor, Mr Tonton B, whose teaching sparked her interest in linguistics. This early curiosity later matured into a focused academic pursuit in applied linguistics, in which she explored the relationships among language, culture, and identity.

At the University of Ghana, she stood out beyond the classroom, serving as Head of Atelier Musique, a French-language music club that promotes language learning and intercultural exchange on campus.

Her academic distinction earned her a competitive scholarship in 2023 for an exchange programme at Sciences Po Bordeaux, France, where she broadened her academic and cross-cultural exposure.

Samuel also demonstrated strong commitment to leadership and service. She interned with the International Leadership Foundation and The Transbureau, gaining professional experience in leadership and development.

“In 2025, I  volunteered as a French interpreter at the Africa Women Political Leadership Summit, supporting multilingual dialogue on women’s leadership across Africa,” she stated, adding that her linguistic interests extend beyond French and English.

She said she attained HSK Level 4 in Mandarin Chinese through the Confucius Institute and studied Korean at the Centre for Asian Studies.

In 2025, Samuel also delivered a speech on behalf of her cohort at the Korean Language programme’s completion ceremony.

Looking ahead, she said she plans to explore the intersection of language, culture and technology, particularly in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, cross-cultural communication and digital innovation.

“My emergence as best graduating student and valedictorian underscores the impact of passion-driven learning, international exposure and sustained academic excellence.”