Growing up, Dr. Margaret Wekem Kukeba held two dreams close: to become a journalist — a bold voice of truth — or a lawyer, the fearless defender in a courtroom. She imagined herself holding a microphone or standing before a judge, confident and determined. But childhood dreams can fade when a young girl has passion without guidance, ambition without direction, and potential without a mentor.
Dr. Kukeba’s early years were marked by curiosity but little structure. She wanted to learn, grow, and rise beyond the limitations surrounding her. Yet, like many girls from underserved communities, she lacked someone to show her the way.
Although family members such as a cousin supported her financially, she says the greatest barrier wasn’t money — it was the absence of information.
“Most often, we didn’t get information or people to look up to,” she said. “We simply didn’t know. We didn’t understand the right channels we needed to pass.”
While her peers with better guidance followed clear career paths, Margaret navigated her journey alone. She describes those years as “beating bush,” moving without clarity and trying different routes, hoping one would eventually lead somewhere meaningful.
Her determination, however, outpaced her confusion. Desperate to enter university, she applied to several programs — not out of certainty, but out of hope.
“During my time, I didn’t have anyone in my career path to guide me or tell me where to go,” she said. “I was just applying for anything because I simply wanted to go to the university.”
Her eventual entry into nursing wasn’t driven by passion but by the opportunities she understood at the time. Still, she embraced the profession with perseverance, working hard and discovering new strengths along the way.
Behind this journey was someone who played a quiet, steadying role — her husband. Dr. Kukeba speaks of him with deep appreciation. When the question of further education arose, she made a selfless choice:
She encouraged him to pursue his master’s degree first.
She recalls this decision without regret, saying she believed that supporting each other meant both would rise. His support in return, she notes, helped her stay grounded through difficult years.
Reflecting on her journey today, Dr. Kukeba emphasises the importance of clarity. She believes many young women continue to struggle with the same uncertainty she once faced — wanting to achieve something meaningful but lacking direction.
“A lot of young ladies don’t know what they want to do,” she said. “You need to be clear about your goals, how you want to grow, and what direction you want your life to take.”
To her, success requires more than dreaming; it requires preparation. Even with family support, she says, a girl must examine her own capacity, commitment, discipline, and readiness.
“Even if your family supports you, if you don’t prepare yourself, you may become frustrated. And when you get frustrated, it eventually affects the family again.”
Dr. Kukeba’s story is not one of overnight victories. It is the story of a woman who walked through uncertainty without a guide, stumbled often, but kept moving. Even when the map was unclear, she refused to stop.
Today, her journey stands as a reminder of the many young girls who still stand where she once stood — full of promise but lacking direction. And her life proves that persistence can carve a path even when the way forward is hidden.
Dr. Margaret Wekem Kukeba may not have become the journalist or lawyer she dreamed of, but she became something equally powerful:
a woman who transformed uncertainty into strength, hardship into wisdom, and confusion into purpose.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Keziah Porepaya Nsoh|Bolgatanga
