Nicholas Okota-Wilson is national best teacher trainee
A twenty-four-year-old teacher of Odoton SDA Primary School in the Awutu Senya District in the Central Region and old student of the Wiawso College of Education (WATCO), Nicholas Okota-Wilson, has been adjudged the National Best Teacher Trainee for the year 2013.
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Graduating with a First Class Diploma in Basic Education certified by the University of Cape Coast (UCC), he breaks the national record of Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.7 for teacher trainees with 3.81.
This is the highest GPA scored so far ever since the UCC began the certification of teacher trainees in the country.
The GPA of 3.7 in 2007 remained the highest record.
Personal background
Okota-Wilson, who hails from Awutu Bawjiase in the Awutu Senya West District in the Central Region, attended the then Senya Senior Secondary School before entering the WATCO in 2011.
While on WATICO campus as a Seventh Day Adventist, he made giant efforts towards the mobilisation and development of Seventh Day Adventists.
As the branch President of the Ghana National Association of Adventist Students (GNAAS), Mr Okota-Wilson was a stalwart in contributing to students’ development through holistic education.
UCC Excellence Award
At the seventh congregation held at WATCO in the Wiawso Municipality in the Western Region, Mr Okota-Wilson was presented with a cash prize of GH¢1,000.00, a laptop, a printer and accessories.
An ultimate reward for emerging the national best teacher trainees was a scholarship package which will permit him to pursue a two-year post-diploma programme in Basic Education at the UCC.
Dedication
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Okota-Wilson dedicated his award to the Almighty God for working through his parents, siblings and neighbours to his benefit.
He said he was motivated by family, friends and teachers who were purposeful and hardworking.
He advised students of the college not to be perturbed by challenges they faced but must strive for excellence at all times, challenging them to break his GPA record.
Gratitude to UCC and WATCO
Mr Okota-Wilson expressed gratitude to the UCC for the award, and praised the university for encouraging teaching through functional literacy.
He called on authorities of the UCC to develop programmes that would suit the changing trends of society through the reorientation of basic education.
He said he was grateful to his former college’s administration, most especially the Principal, Mrs Georgina Lartey, for the rich support.
He then called on the government and philanthropists to help develop the college’s infrastructure to reflect its tertiary status.
