Jesse Kekeli Afudego, the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz champion from PRESEC Legon, has been accepted into Ashesi University's Electrical and Electronic Engineering program. Afudego, who hails from Battor in the North Tongu Constituency, was a key member of PRESEC Legon's team that won the school's record-extending ninth NSMQ championship this year. His admission was announced by VOK Live on social media on September 23, 2026.
Ashesi University's Electrical and Electronic Engineering program combines theoretical foundations with practical training in power systems, communications, electronics, and control systems. The program also emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which Afudego reportedly demonstrated during PRESEC's run in the national competition. This aligns with his earlier ambitions to become an engineer.
Afudego had previously expressed his dream of studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had disclosed that Afudego hoped to become an MIT-trained engineer and had pledged to support him in pursuing that goal. However, it is unclear whether Ashesi University represents a step toward that MIT ambition or a separate path altogether.
Afudego's admission to Ashesi University adds to a string of opportunities that have opened up for contestants from this year's NSMQ competition. Earlier, Bright SHS's Mercy Okang won a $50,000 scholarship to Academic City after her standout NSMQ performance. Additionally, Stephen Kofi Apemah-Baah, who represented Opoku Ware School in the quiz, has relocated to the United States to study Computer Science at Williams College in Massachusetts.
The NSMQ has become a significant launchpad into higher education, both locally and abroad, for Ghanaian students. PRESEC Legon's ninth title cements its status as the most successful school in the competition's history. The individual outcomes for its team members are likely to keep the school's program in the national spotlight.
The opportunities flowing to this year's NSMQ finalists underscore the competition's impact on Ghanaian students and parents. The run of admissions and scholarships now flowing to finalists highlights the NSMQ's role in shaping the educational trajectories of talented students.
No timeline has been given for Afudego's start date at Ashesi University or further details on how his stated MIT ambitions will factor into his studies going forward.
Key points
- NSMQ champion Kekeli Afudego gains admission to Ashesi University's Electrical and Electronic Engineering program.
- Afudego was a key member of PRESEC Legon's team that won the school's record-extending ninth NSMQ championship.
- The NSMQ has become a significant launchpad into higher education for Ghanaian students.
