An alumna of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi Essabella Adjoa Scott, has been recognised as the Best Ghanaian Student at the University of Aberdeen, after completing a Master’s degree in Data Science.
Scott received the Afetsi Awoonor Prize, awarded to the Ghanaian postgraduate student with the highest academic performance at the University, marking a significant international academic distinction for the KNUST alumna.
Her achievement caps a journey defined by resilience, reinvention and academic excellence. After an initial setback when she was not admitted into medical school for her undergraduate studies, Scott enrolled at KNUST to study Biochemistry, graduating with First Class Honours.
Following her undergraduate studies, she undertook her national service at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, where she worked in the Department of Parasitology, gaining experience in drug discovery and cell culture.
Her career path later expanded beyond the laboratory. Scott transitioned into the corporate sector, working at United Bank for Africa (UBA), where she handled vendor management, procurement, inventory management and expense processing.
The cross-functional exposure sharpened her analytical skills and reshaped her career direction.
“Working across these functions showed me that whether in science, finance or operations, data sits at the centre of impact,” she said. “That realisation pushed me to intentionally transition into technology and data science, even though I did not come from a traditional tech background.”
She pursued postgraduate studies in Data Science at the University of Aberdeen, a journey she said came with significant challenges, including adapting to a new academic system, managing financial pressures and confronting imposter syndrome.
“The persistent feeling that I did not truly belong, despite evidence of my competence, challenged me mentally and emotionally,” she said. “But adversity was not new to me. I had learned how to persist.”
Over time, Scott said she shifted her focus from self-doubt to contribution.
“I stopped questioning whether I belonged and focused on what I could offer. Through discipline, long nights of study and resilience, I earned this honour,” she added.
Scott said her determination was shaped by early personal hardship following the loss of her father, which left her mother to support a family of five through petty trading.
“My goal was always to put a smile on my mother’s face through academic and professional excellence,” she said.
Now preparing for the next phase of her career, Scott says she hopes to apply data-driven thinking to create impact across industries and communities.
“My journey has taught me that setbacks do not end a story; they redirect it,” she said. “With resilience, faith, community support and the courage to adapt, it is possible to rise beyond circumstances and move forward with purpose.”
