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Survival stories of four inspiring female personalities
In the past week, we shared stories of some Ghanaian entrepreneurs proving solutions to their clients and others who continue to leave a mark on the international front.
Today’s edition is a compilation of the stories of four female personalities across the globe who have been through some harrowing moments in their lives but still went ahead to attain their goals regardless of their circumstances. Read on.
Dr Malvika Iyer
At age 13, she accidentally picked up a diffused grenade bomb at her home in Bikaner, Rajasthan that exploded in her hands, blew off both her hands and severely damaged her legs.
There was little hope for her survival when she was taken to the hospital. She was conscious but in terrible pain. Subsequent to surviving that night, she had to undergo surgeries for two years and was bedridden for 18 months.
Against all odds, at age 28, she obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work from the University of Madras. She also holds a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Social Work from the University of Madras, a Master of Social Work (M.S.W) in Social Work from Delhi University and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Economics from St. Stephen’s College.
Dr Malvika Lyer’s story is one of courage and determination. She has come a long way from surviving a gruesome bomb blast to winning the highest civilian honor from the President of India.
Today, she is an award-winning Disability Rights Activist and International Motivational Speaker — inspiring millions of people to forget their limitations and take on the world with confidence and hope.
Kechi Okwuchi
On December 10, 2005, she was involved in a horrific plane crash in Nigeria that took 107 of the 109 lives on board. She was 16 years old and sustained 3rd degree burns over 65 percent of her body and given a 30 percent chance of survival.
She was air-lifted to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa for immediate medical attention and treatment, and later to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Galveston, Texas in the United States of America (USA), where she has undergone over 100 reconstructive surgeries.
She resumed high school in 2009 and graduated from the University of Saint Thomas with a First Class Degree in Economics in 2015. She got invited into six honour societies, including the International Economics Honour Society.
Today, Kechi Okwchi is a Singer, Songwriter, Inspirational Speaker, Social Impact Advocate and a Published Author of ‘More Than My Scars’.
“I don’t hide behind anything. I don’t hide how I am, how I look from the world. I want people to feel like they can be genuine in any given situation because that’s the way they’re supposed to be. That’s the way to be really happy in this world,” she said.
Zoey Seboe
She was born with a rare skin condition called Lamellar Ichthyosis, which many mistake for burnt marks or eczema. Growing up, her family encouraged her to model, and they would constantly tell her that she was beautiful.
In a society that often has unrealistic standards about what beauty is, she didn’t allow expectations and perceptions to define her.
The inspirational Zoey Seboe was recently announced as one of the 2022 Miss South Africa Top 30 finalists, her skin condition has not stopped her from chasing her dreams and went ahead to study for a Bachelor of Commerce in Law.
“For me, beauty is understanding that simply existing is enough. It is also about embracing your heritage and being unapologetic; simply stepping in as the person you are.”
“With every chance you get, tell yourself that you are beautiful and worth every space you find yourself in. It may take time, but you need to come out and be YOU,” she said.
Winfred Wanjiku Muchiri
Winfred is an inspirational Kenyan DJ born with Cerebral Palsy — a group of permanent disorders that affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. In her case, her arm movement was affected.
Dj Wiwa, as she is popularly known, uses her feet and toes to Dj, she started DJing in 2018 and has performed in many gigs ever since.
“I have always loved music, but due to my speech problem, I couldn’t become a singer, and that is why my mom suggested I can make a good DJ. My mother saw my talent before I did. My first time operating a turntable wasn’t easy as I used my feet and toes, and I almost gave up, but my mom couldn’t let me,“ she said.In 2019, she, unfortunately, lost her mother who had always been a shoulder for her to lean on.
Against all odds, Dj Wiwa continues to be an inspiration to a lot of people, and she always makes it a point to put on a good show wherever she is booked to perform.
Additional files from women power Africa
By Spectator Reporter
The professor who spends his days exploring the intricacies of African languages found himself at the centre of a different kind of lesson on Friday, October 2, 2026. 
This time, there were no lecture notes, academic arguments or university classrooms. Instead, there was the weight of tradition, the rhythm of a community celebration and the solemnity of an oath at a royal palace.
Professor Ọbádélé Kambon, a full Professor of African Linguistics at the University of Ghana, was enstooled as Apagyahene and Sunsum Ɔsahene of Akuapem Mampong in the Eastern Region in a ceremony that brought academia and traditional authority together.
For the professor, the occasion was more than a new title. It was a moment that connected his academic interests in African languages and indigenous knowledge with the living traditions of an Akan community.
The day’s events unfolded through a series of customary observances. Kambon was first taken to the compounds of the Ɔkyeamehene and Gyasehene, where the preparations for his installation continued.
Then came the application of hyire, the white kaolin powder associated with traditional rites.
With the customary proceedings underway, the new chief was lifted onto the shoulders of celebrants and carried along the main thoroughfare of Akuapem Mampong.
The procession transformed the streets into a public stage for a ceremony rooted in the community’s traditional institutions.
There was something striking about the image, a university professor, accustomed to the measured language of academic discourse, being carried through the town in a display of traditional recognition.
Yet the celebration was not complete with the procession.
A ram was sacrificed at the Mamponghene’s compound before Kambon was taken to the palace, to swear the oath associated with his new offices.
The ceremony brought him formally into his roles as Apagyahene and Sunsum Ɔsahene.
Beyond the colourful proceedings, the titles themselves carry layers of historical meaning.
Kambon in his research explores the historical connections between Apagya and Akan political and military organisation.
Accounts cited in his work linked Apagya to an asafo, or military company, while historical writing traces an Apagya stool in Asante to the reign of Opoku Ware I in the eighteenth century.
These historical associations offer a glimpse into the institutions that have shaped Akan society over generations, although they do not automatically define the precise responsibilities of the office in Akuapem Mampong.
Kambon’s own professional life reflects a similar interest in preserving and examining African knowledge.
His work encompasses Akan language structure, naming practices across the Black world, proverbs and indigenous intellectual traditions.
Through Abibitumi, the platform he founded, he also promotes language learning, scholarship and cultural engagement.
But tradition was only one part of the story that day.
When the formal ceremony gave way to a reception, the occasion expanded into a celebration of three milestones: Kambon’s enstoolment, his promotion to full professor and his daughter Ama’s admission to the University of Ghana.
The gathering therefore carried a personal significance that went beyond the honours bestowed on one man. 
It celebrated professional advancement, the continuation of family aspirations and a connection to cultural heritage.
For a father, seeing a daughter gain admission to the same university where he holds a distinguished academic position offered another reason to celebrate.
For the professor, the moment placed family achievement alongside his own professional and traditional milestones.
Kambon had already established a place in the traditional life of Akuapem Mampɔn through an earlier installation as Banmuhene Kyidɔmhene, recorded in 2017.
His latest enstoolment adds another chapter to that relationship.
In Akuapem Mampɔn, the day brought together the university, the palace and the family table in one celebration. And for Kambon, the journey from the lecture room to the traditional procession showed how scholarship, cultural responsibility and family achievement could converge in a single memorable occasion.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
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Intercity STC Coaches Limited has interdicted a driver captured in a viral video allegedly hitting a Sprinter bus during an overtaking manoeuvre at Pokuase before driving away from the scene.
In a public notice, the company described the driver’s conduct as unacceptable, stressing that it did not reflect the safety standards and professionalism it upholds.
Management said it had commenced an immediate investigation into the incident and identified the driver, who has been interdicted pending the outcome of the disciplinary process.
The company added that it was awaiting an official report from the Pokuase Police Command to help establish the facts surrounding the incident.
STC reaffirmed its commitment to passenger safety and responsible road use, while thanking members of the public for bringing the incident to its attention.
Management assured the public that appropriate action would be taken following the investigation.
By: Jacob Aggrey
