We begin a series where we seek to trace the paths of some of West Africa's most talented individuals over the last thirty five years. What has happened to them? What contributions have they made? To the world at large? To their native West Africa? Is early academic achievement (for this will be our sole selector) a reliable predictor for later success? What differences can be identified in outcomes between the 'early' scholars (say before 2000) and the later scholars (after 2000). For example, are later scholars more likely to be working in their native country or region. What differences can be identified in outcomes between the different nationalities. For example, do the brightest Ghanaians achieve more success than the brightest Nigerians in later life? What do we mean by "success"? What professions have these individuals pursued? Have they worked predominantly in the STEM areas that development experts tell us are critical for developing countries or have their talents gone elsewhere? What about gender? What effect does it have on outcomes among this category? We hope to answer these and more questions during the course of the series.

As our selector we use the results of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, school leaving examination. Since 1985, WAEC has awarded prizes to the top three candidates in this exam. We shall attempt to trace the progress of these individuals using only publicly available information. No doubt, in some cases, despite our best efforts we will be unable to identify individuals or we will misidentify individuals, but through careful examination of the available evidence we should be able to glean accurate enough information to be able to form a reasonable overall picture. We will remain open to correction by our readers throughout the series. The "VERIFICATION" entry for each listing below indicates the criteria used to determine, or at least infer, that the individual whose details we have pulled from the public (internet) record was indeed the individual of the same name who excelled in the WAEC examination. A first name and last name match is a prerequisite.

WAEC, of course, conducts examinations only in English-speaking West Africa, so this series is necessarily limited to these areas. Up to 1998 GCE 'A' levels were the principal school-leaving examination conducted by WAEC.  In 1998, a new examination, the WASSCE, was introduced and quickly replaced WAEC 'A' levels in English-speaking West Africa.

We begin with the the fifteen award winners between 1985 and 1989.

1985:


David Adedapo Ishola . Physician, researcher, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 21 research publications on Researchgate starting from 2003 to 2015. Three of the first five (to 2006) appear to be with Nigerian co-authors in Nigerian-related settings. Then, to 2015 research papers appear to be in non-African settings, some with little direct relevance to West Africa ("Increased Risk of ...Influenza Infection in UK Pig Industry Workers..."). Then in 2015 the West African Ebola epidemic seems to inspire a renewed interest and works in a team on clinical trials of a vaccine and co-authors papers on the epidemic. VERIFICATION: None for David Adedapo Ishola. Circa 13 other David Isholas listed on Linkedin, four with different middle names. CV verification

Jonah Nicholina J.E.O  MD Columbia University, New York. Obstetrics/Gynecology specialist, Frankfurt, Kentucky, U.S. Appears to have worked in US since graduating from Columbia University, New York in 1996. In successful private practice in association with a number of other medical professionals. No publications found. VERIFICATION: No internet verification for Nicholina Jonah. One Nikolina Jonah found with multiple internet listings.

Adanu Richard Mawuena K. Specialist obstetrician/ Gynecologist, Professor, School of Public Health, University of Ghana. Degrees from University of Ghana and Johns Hopkins, US. Starting in 2001, over 50 research papers, sole- and joint-authored, in Ghanaian and international medical journals. Professional career appears to have been wholly or largely in Ghana. From ResearchGate, 172 research items, 1,400 citations, 50 co-authors, Ghanaian and international. VERIFICATION: Age, very strong Ghanaian connection, middle names and initial.


1986:


Ashu Garg. Bachelors degree, India Institute of Technology, Delhi; MBA, IIM, Bangalore. Worked at several US technology companies. Currently partner at a venture capital firm on the West Coast of the US, funding startup companies in new technologies. Sits on the boards of several IT companies. Numerous non-research articles, comment and projections on technology (IT) issues. VERIFICATION: Approximate age, lived in Nigeria. Several individuals found with same name

Oluwasegun Uduola. No convincing match from public record

Roland Ilube. Chartered Accountant.  Joined Shell in 1996, to 2018. Various executive positions with Shell in Africa and the UK, till 2018. Strong interest in cricket. Played for Nigeria. Founder in 1991 of the London Nigerians Cricket Club. Apparently based principally in the UK. VERIFICATION: Approximate age, strong Nigerian connection

1987:


Adebayo Olakunle Akinpelu.  Engineer with Chevron, Texas. Applied for a joint patent with other Chevron staff on a new, specialized technique for welding large marine chains. VERIFICATION: Middle name

Olufemi Anthony. B.Sc Mathematics w/ Comp. Sci., 1990 - 1994, MIT; MTM, Univ of Pennsylvania, 2000 - 2004. Advanced data programmer with data-intensive financial and other companies in the US. Written a software development book, Mastering Pandas. Several articles on data-intensive IT on Linkedin. VERIFICATION:  Name, date of first degree, on Linkedin following David Sengeh, Chief Innovation Officer, Government of Sierra Leone.

Prince Franklin Kwetey. No convincing match could be found.

1988:


Bidemi Abioseh Carroll. Bachelor's degree Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, Brown University, 1995; Master's degree, economics, Stanford University, 2002; Ph.D. Education, Stanford University, 2005.  Several positions in education and sociology including international assignments with IRC and the World Bank in Sierra Leone and West Africa. Spent 8 years in the region before returning to a position in the US as Senior Education Research Analyst. Has co-authored several well-cited research papers on educational policy. VERIFICATION: Middle name, date of first degree

Daniel Sakyi Coker. Achimota School. Active member of Old Achimota Association, UK branch. VERIFICATION: Full name, nationality, date of school completion.

Cynthia-Clare Tagoe . Bachelors degree, Central State University, US, 1992,  J.D. (professional law degree)  Case Western Reserve University, US, 2001.  Working as a lawyer in the United States.  VERIFICATION: Full name, nationality, date of degrees

1989:

 1st: Honu Kofi Senyo (Ghana) 2nd: Obaka Henry Enajite (Ghana) 3rd: Thorpe Solade (Sierra Leone)

Kofi Senyo Honu. Presbyterian Boys Secondary School. Has been a software engineer in the Washington, D.C. area for the past twelve years. VERIFICATION: Full name. On Linked-In, lists Presbyterian Boys.Graduation date 1996, Yale (2015 internet  open letter to Yale re  racism.)

Henry Enajite Obaka. Applied in 1992 for admission to the University of Ghana Medical School. Senior specialist at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and part-time lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Medicine. Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons and registered as a medical practitioner in Ghana. Has participated in training programs run by the Ghanaian Medical and Dental Council. In June this year he assisted in groundbreaking surgery at Korle-Bu, said to be the first of its kind in West Africa, to remove a 10-lb stomach tumour from  a 52-year old patient. 1 joint research paper found (2017). VERIFICATION: Full name, nationality, date of admission to medical school.

Solade Thorpe. Graduate student, 2000, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. Active in writer's circles in Philadelphia in the early 2000s. Indications he is still in Philadelphia. VERIFICATION: Name - exclusive on the internet, age

1985 - 1989 SUMMARY
(For nationality (WASSCE location) and gender, figures are percentages of the total (15). For other categories, figures are percentages of the total identified in that category)

By Nationality:                                                                             Nigeria - 40%, Ghana - 33%, Sierra Leone - 27%
By Gender:                                                                                    Male - 80%  Female - 20%
Percentage achieving at least first degree:                                 100% (12/12)
Attained first degree in West Africa:                                           38% (3/8)
Percentage working in Stem:                                                        73% (8/11)
Percentage currently living in West Africa:                                 15% (2/13)
Percentage whose career has been centered in West Africa:     23% (3/13)     * Half marks given for those who have spent significant time in West Africa as well as abroad 
Books published:                                                                            1
Peer-reviewed research articles:                                                   circa 200, co-authored
Patents:                                                                                           1, joint
Other professional articles:                                                            many
Percent contributing to written public record                                47% (7/15)      *Book or article or patent