Dr. Magaret Wekem Kukeba’s journey to becoming the Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at CKT-UTAS is a story of perseverance, passion, and an unyielding commitment to improving healthcare education in Ghana.
From her early days as a student to her battles for educational reforms, her life has been shaped by an unshakable belief in change.
Early Struggles and Academic Pursuits
Dr. Kukeba reminisced about her days in senior high school, describing herself as a disciplined yet outspoken student. “I was not the type to break school rules, but I also didn’t just follow things blindly,” she recalled.
She was actively engaged in class discussions and wasn’t afraid to challenge ideas or voice her opinions, a trait that sometimes put her at odds with some teachers. “If something didn’t make sense to me, I would question it. Some teachers liked that, others didn’t,” she said with a laugh.
Despite this, she maintained a strong academic record and was well-regarded by her peers. “I was serious with my studies, but I also knew how to have fun,” she added, reflecting on the friendships and experiences that shaped her formative years.
Dr. Kukeba initially aspired to be a journalist or a lawyer, but family pressure led her to nursing school. “I never really wanted to do nursing,” she admitted. “I was thinking of journalism or law, but my family insisted.”
She begrudgingly completed nursing school, still not particularly interested in the profession. However, there was a eureka moment that changed everything. “One day, during my clinicals, I saw how a simple intervention could save a patient’s life, and it struck me—this is important. This is what I was meant to do.” Suddenly, the woman who once resisted the profession realized that, after all, nursing was her true calling.
Dr. Kukeba’s pursuit of higher education was filled with challenges. She recounted a pivotal moment when she discovered the existence of scholarship opportunities purely by chance.
“I never knew there was something like that,” she admitted. A friend mentioned a scholarship office, and together they embarked on a journey to locate it. “We took trotro and looked for it. In fact, she also heard of it, but she didn’t know exactly where it was. We went around, beating about the bush, and finally located the place.”
Despite having just returned from the UK with a Master’s degree, Dr. Kukeba applied for the Commonwealth Scholarship. When called for an interview, she was told, “You’ve been shortlisted at the Ghana level. Go and bring study leave.” At the time, her responsibilities as a wife and mother made it difficult for her to leave again. She didn’t pursue it further.
However, a year later, she reapplied and faced a similar encounter. “You, last year you were here. We asked you to come with study leave. Are you sure this time?” they asked. “That is why I’ve come,” she responded with determination. Eventually, she won the scholarship and competed at the international level.
The moment she received the acceptance email was surreal. “I opened it and thought, ‘I hope these people are not going to tell me we are sorry.’” To her surprise, the email read, Congratulations. I am pleased to inform you that you’ve been selected for the Commonwealth Scholarship for PhD.
Excited, she immediately called her husband to share the news. “I am off to the UK for my PhD,” she declared. His response? “My friend, you are always having wishful thinking.” But she was determined, and this scholarship became a turning point in her career.
Passion for Child Nutrition and Cultural Influence
While in the UK, Dr. Kukeba focused her PhD research on child nutrition in Ghana. She observed that despite interventions since 1992, malnutrition indicators remained high. “I saw that there were still a lot of children that were malnourished,” she explained. “It looked like we were not feeding them appropriately. So I wanted to find out whether our culture had an impact on the way we fed children.”
Her research resonated with reviewers, earning her approval to continue. It was a subject deeply personal to her, shaped by her years of experience working in hospitals and teaching nursing students.
Fighting for Change at Bolgatanga Nurses Training College
Upon her return from the UK, Dr. Kukeba initially planned to teach at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), inspired in part by her husband’s pride in being an alumnus. However, she found herself back at Bolgatanga Nurses Training College, where she had previously worked. She was disheartened by what she saw. “All the reforms we had put in place before I left were being reversed. The school was a shadow of itself,” she lamented.
She voiced her concerns to the principal but was met with resistance. When the administration attempted to scrap practical clinical examinations, she stood her ground. “No, no, no, no, no. That cannot happen,” she insisted. When her concerns were ignored, she and some colleagues escalated the matter to the regional health director, who was supportive. However, the school’s leadership saw them as troublemakers.
“Within the twinkle of an eye, this man was now planning to transfer all the troublemakers out of the school,” she recalled.
Faced with an unjust transfer to Tamale Nurses Training College, Dr. Kukeba and a senior colleague took drastic action. “We locked up his office,” she said, describing the move that led to widespread media coverage. “It was all over the air. Bolga NTC, blah blah blah.”
Despite attempts to push her out, her resilience paid off when she was approached by CKT-UTAS. At first, she resisted. “I’ve had enough of Upper East,” she thought. However, she was persuaded to stay, reflecting on her roots. “This is your hometown,” she was told. Eventually, she agreed, becoming the first lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery and later its Dean.
Future Aspirations
Looking ahead, Dr. Kukeba has her eyes set on becoming an associate professor. “That’s my personal goal,” she said. But beyond personal achievements, she is focused on institutional development. “I want to ensure that the innovations and standards we are setting are consolidated.”
She is working on establishing a center for evidence-based nursing and lifelong education, which would enable nurses to continuously upgrade their skills. “In developed countries, you have to go for one form of training or another to renew your license,” she noted. “Currently, people here can fake certificates. I want to build a system where they appreciate the need for training and avail themselves willingly.”
Dr. Kukeba’s story is one of relentless dedication. Whether advocating for reforms, standing against injustices, or pushing the frontiers of nursing education, she continues to be a force for change. Her journey is an inspiration to many young professionals, proving that resilience, determination, and a commitment to excellence can break barriers and create lasting impact.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com | 101.1MHZ | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Bolgatanga
