Eastern Cape teenager Owami Ngqono graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture in Economics at the University of Fort Hare. (Supplied)
- An Eastern Cape teenager graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture in economics at the University of Fort Hare on Friday.
- Owami Ngqono, aged 19, is now doing an honours programme in the same field.
- The teenager plans to pursue a master’s degree and a PhD.
An Eastern Cape teenager was among the University of Fort Hare’s youngest graduates who were capped at the autumn ceremony in Alice on Friday.
Nineteen-year-old Owami Ngqono graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture in economics.
The day was even more special because her 102-year-old great-grandmother, Thandiwe Magobiane, was present along with her grandmother, Nobekile.
Ngqono prayed she would graduate while her great-grandmother was still alive.
“I am so happy that my wish would be realised,” she said.
Her mother, Akhona, said she was happy with Ngqono ‘s achievement.
“I am so happy for her, and I thank God for Owami. She is such a dedicated and focused child that I count myself very lucky to have her. She is very unique,” she said.
She added her daughter had always shown enthusiasm for success from an early age.
“It had been all about books for her. [There was] not even a single day that I had disagreements with her over her whereabouts. She is very honest. Even when she went to study at Fort Hare, the bond of trust between us has never diminished. We communicate openly,” the mother said.
READ | Approved at last! Fort Hare produces first cohort of qualified speech and language therapists
The Ngqono family will celebrate the graduation with a family lunch.
Ngqono’s mother will also graduate this May with a National Diploma in Accounting from Walter Sisulu University.
According to the teen, her high school teacher encouraged her to pursue agriculture at a tertiary level.
“I would like to send my appreciation to my former agriculture teacher, Mr Mandilakhe Mango, at Lamplough [High] School. He really believed in me and encouraged me to take agriculture seriously,” she said.
Ngqono was 16 when she went to the university after matriculating from Lamplough High School in Butterworth.
She passed matric with three distinctions – in agricultural science, mathematics literacy and isiXhosa.
Speaking to News24, an elated Ngqono said:
I am so excited that I have graduated. I have been working very hard to make sure that I complete my studies in record time.
She said she tried not to be overwhelmed by her young age.
“During my studies, I conducted myself just like other students. That I am the youngest in class has never overshadowed the fact that I needed to push myself even harder for success,” she said,
At high school, some of her friends used to call her “last born” because she was the youngest in the class.
“Even at the university, when we were doing our third year, some would tease me, saying I did not need to stress myself that much because I am still young,” said Ngqono, who is now doing her honours degree in the same field.
Eastern Cape teenager Owami Ngqono graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture in Economics at the University of Fort Hare
Eastern Cape teenager Owami Ngqono graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture in Economics at the University of Fort Hare
But she said there was never pressure at university.
“I told myself that I needed to focus on my studies and not the age.”
She plans to study towards a master’s degree and a PhD in the same field.