A Year of Remarkable Growth, Achievements, and Success: Celebrating the Journey of Our 5 First Cohort of Interns!

Last week, we introduced the second cohort of selected interns for the 2024 AKAYA x Remoteli Summer Internship Programme and as we think of the journey so far, we reflect on the previous year and on our first cohort of Interns. With immeasurable pride and happiness, we are ecstatic to celebrate the incredible growth, achievements, and successes of the five exceptional ladies who participated in first edition of the AKAYA Summer Internship Programme in 2023. Beyond the internship months (July – September 2023), these talented interns have continued to make a significant impact in their personal and professional lives as well as in their respective fields, showcasing the lasting effects of their internship experience. 

In this article, we proudly present a list of outstanding achievements by our “First Ladies” and share inspiring quotes from them, serving as a guiding light for the next cohort of interns.

Merabel Nana-Attakora - 3rd Year BSc Accounting, University of Professional Studies, Accra 

1. 1st Runner-Up in the KPMG Ghana Internal Audit Awareness Month Student Article Writing Competition out of 41 applicants.

2. Secured an enviable Internship opportunity at KPMG’s Governance, Risk and Compliance Services (GRCS) Unit.

3. Key takeaways that are constantly applied in her life are from sessions with Tracey Jones and Ohemaa Andoh on emotional intelligence and having a positive mindset to keep pushing respectively.

4. After the Internship, Merabel is more confident, a great public speaker and generally, a better version of herself.

Patience Dery - 4th Year BSc Mechanical Engineering, Ashesi University 

1. Gearing up for the successful culmination of her undergraduate studies at Ashesi University.

2. One of the inspirational figures for young ladies from the Northern sector of Ghana aspiring to make their mark in STEAM.

3. Notable empowerment and motivational figure on the Ashesi campus.

4. For Patience, being an AKAYA Intern has helped her tremendously in all aspects of her life. Her passion for volunteering has been reinforced and she takes it a day at a time.

Sobaha Tunteeya Chipura Sadick - 4th Year LLB Law, University of Professional Studies, Accra 

1. Impressive academic exploits and successful completion of first-degree Law studies at University of Professional Studies, Accra and anticipating admission to the Ghana School of Law.

2. Emerging as one of the most astute legal voices in student politics as evidenced by her tenure as the UPSA SRC Chief Justice.

3. For Sobaha, life after the internship has been one whirlwind of amazing growth. Her personal and professional life bear witness to the impact of AKAYA.

4. Sobaha is taking up more leadership roles, participating in various volunteer works and developing her advocacy skills while striving to be more tolerant and understanding.

Abubakari Salwa Suhuyini - 6th Year of Pharmacy DPharm, University of Developmental Studies

1. Forging admirably ahead towards the success culmination of her undergraduate degree journey.

2. Successfully became an entrepreneur and launched a perfumery business.

3. Salwa is a voice of female empowerment to her peers at the University for Development Studies and taking up leadership roles in her faculty.

4. When asked how her time with AKAYA has nurtured her skills, Salwa shares insights on how her imposter syndrome has been dealt with. She is more confident of being a better version of herself each day and she enjoys life as it comes.

Benedicta Owusu - National Service Personnel, Nestlé Ghana

1. Successful completion of undergraduate studies in Physics at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

2. Successfully developing her idea to minimise menstrual poverty and financial dependency.

3. Currently making strides as a multiple award-winning emerging entrepreneur.

4. Benedicta’s skills have unfurled to new dimensions after the internship programme. She is fully exploring her interests in disability advocacy, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, brand management among others thanks to the in-depth insights shared in sessions from the Programme.

Some advice from the former Interns to this current batch are:

"During this internship, utilise every opportunity that comes your way. Make the most out of this internship because through AKAYA, I have got a family that always has my back and genuinely care about my growth and development. Be ever ready to help each other. I sincerely wish you all the best!" – Merabel, Partnership Intern.

"Enjoy the ride and all that comes with it. Be ready to learn and improve in every aspect of your lives. Inasmuch as your respective tasks may be hard, endeavour to collaborate and grow together." – Patience, Administrative Intern.

"AKAYA is an amazing place to be so make sure you absorb whatever impactful knowledge you will be exposed to. Be like a sponge, soaking up every positive information or skill that will be impacted on you. Practice what you learn as well and strive to do your best always, for you do not know who is watching." – Sobaha, Schools Liaison Intern.

"The internship programme ignited my entrepreneurial spirit and gave me the confidence to pursue my own venture. It taught me the value of taking risks, learning from failures, and never giving up. To the next interns, I encourage you to believe in your ideas, be resilient, and chase your dreams fearlessly." – Salwa, Graphic Designer Intern.

"The internship experience shaped not only my professional growth but also my passion for making a difference. It taught me the importance of purpose-driven work, mentorship, and paying it forward. To the next cohort, I urge you to embrace opportunities to mentor others, share your knowledge, and inspire the next generation of interns." – Benedicta, Content Writer Intern.

Celebrating the remarkable growth, achievements, and successes of our five former interns a year after their summer internship programme, the entire AKAYA family is filled with pride and admiration for their continued impact. Their dedication, passion, and commitment have certainly propelled them to new heights in their careers and personal journeys. To the next cohort of interns, we hope these achievements and inspiring quotes serve as a reminder of the incredible possibilities that lie ahead as you journey forth. Embrace this opportunity, seize every moment, and let your journey be filled with growth, achievements, and successes. 

The future is yours to shape!

Article written by Benedicta Owusu