It is that time of the year when millions are graduating from various higher education institutions across the globe. The greater percentage of these numbers are in China where universities will be graduating a total of 8.34 million college graduates in November 2018 citing figures from the Ministry of Education. China has seen 2015 surpassed the US and UK to become the second-highest host to over 60,000 African students with France leading with over 90,000 according to a Mckinsey report in 2015.
This includes Musa Frimpong, a Ghanaian student who graduated with a Masters degree in Public Administration from Tsinghua University (ranked first in China, 2nd in Asia and 16th globally according to the 2020 QS Higher Education Rankings). Musa majored in International Development and Governance at the School of Public Policy and Management.
At the graduates students commencement ceremony held last Saturday for 2,279 doctorates and 5,728 master’s degree students, the President of the University, Professor Qiu Yong’s at the onset of his commencement address shared Musa’s story with the over 6000 students and 5000 family and friends who were gathered at the schools stadium.
Being the first outdoor graduation ceremony in over a decade at such a prestigious university, there were hundreds of millions following the ceremony across China through various online and media platforms. The President recounted how Musa during his time at the university has succeeded in founding and registering the first African startup – DUAPA AFRICA in Haidian Pioneer Park inside the famous Zhongguancun High Tech area (often referred to as the Silicon Valley of China) and his contribution also as the immediate past General Secretary of the African Students Association in the university. Read more about the President’s speech here in Chinese.
A day before the commencement ceremony, thirty representatives of the 2019 graduates class including Musa (the only African and Black) met with the President of the university at the school’s History Museum for a round table symposium. Musa who was among the fourteen people who addressed the symposium was praised by the President for being a true model and embodiment of the university’s values and spirit of self-confidence, commitment, vision, execution, and social contribution.
He was reportedly said “I am very impressed by our classmate Musa, he not only said that he hopes to promote exchanges between China and Africa, but he is acting on his own too, Starting a business, He began to move up, when I learned about it, his actions were already out there, they are action, execution, “Actions speak louder than words” is to emphasize Execution, Tsinghua poeple, I think this is the real Tsinghua People.” is to emphasize execution, Tsinghua people, I think this is the real Tsinghua people” (as translated from Chinese).
In his response to Musa’s invitation for him to visit Ghana and Africa at the same symposium, the University’s President, Professor Qiu Yong also said “Of course I think that the signs of your maturity also include our visit to international organizations, including our classmate Musa, your background is very bright, I will help him make a publicity, he is the first African entrepreneur to start a business in Haidian Pioneer Park. At an event in Beijing in June this year, he was nominated as “African Man of the Year” I have not become any person of any year, it’s pretty great, but I tell you, I have never been to Africa, yeah, OK. So I promise I will try my best to visit the fascinating continent as soon as possible, including Ghana. I will let you know my schedule later.” Musa has since spark into national fame across China through his activities and numerous travels across China and especially since the recent commencement ceremony which was followed by hundreds of millions across China. He is seen as model of African and foreign nationals’ contribution to the Chinese society and a bridge between Africa and China. He has won several recognitions across China within the Chinese, African and international communities.
Musa founded DUAPA AFRICA (officially known as Beijing Shining Consulting Co. Ltd. 北京闪耀咨询有限公司) in April 2018 with three others from Cameroon, Mali and Kenya and they have since implemented various socioeconomic empowerment projects across China working with African embassies in China, African community in China and some powerful Chinese companies and institutions whilst driving Africa-China economic and cultural exchanges. DUAPA AFRICA won ‘The Third Price’ award in the 2019 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition for foreign students in China that was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province and also won the ‘Youth Development Award’ in the 2019 Pride of Africa Asia Pacific Awards held in Beijing. DUAPA’s presence and activities in China has inspired a movement of African and foreign students and talents in China to be more integrated into the socioeconomic activities especially entrepreneurial, startup and job seeking exploits of the Chinese society. They have managed to attract the attention and partnership of many reputable companies, institutions and embassies who they are working a number of trade, investment and development activities in Ghana, Africa and China.
Musa Frimpong graduated with a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and served as Field Officer for the African Union Youth Volunteers Corps (AUYVC) program at the African Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 2015-2017 before moving to China for his studies. He is also Cofounder of Youth Without Borders Ghana and General Secretary for the Ghana Muslim Mission.
Musa who have had this remarkable achievements despite many obstacles in his two year stay in China hopes this will serve as example and motivation for many Ghanaians, Africans and foreigners especially the youth in China and people everywhere to not look at their inadequacies and challenges but to use whatever they have to pursue their dreams backed by self-confidence, vision, and action.
Musa conducted workshops on Ghana and Africa culture and development issues to the Tsinghua University community during his first year at the University through the Department of Foreign languages.
Musa was two time speaker at the University’s most prestigious students speaking platform – iTalk and was awarded Hall of Fame award in the most recent one in June 2019.
Musa visits Beijing Science Center with Ghana’s Ambassador to China to explore cooperation with Ghana
