26/08/2026
Dedza Girls Islamic Secondary School has produced another inspiring success story, with Zaheedah Yusufu graduating from the University of Malawi (UNlMA) with a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition.
Zaheedah completed her secondary education at Dedza Girls Islamic Secondary School, where she scored 17 points in the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations. She says her time at the school gave her the foundation she needed to pursue higher education.
“At the time, I did not know exactly how far my education would take me, but I knew that I wanted to continue learning and build a better future for myself and my community,” she says.
She later "Connected with Excellence " to study Food and Nutrition. Zaheedah says the programme exposed her to different areas, including Community Nutrition, Nutrition and Disease, Advanced Human Nutrition, Nutrition Assessment, Food Safety, Food Security, Microbiology and Nutrition in the Life Cycle.
For Zaheedah, the programme helped her understand the important connection between food, nutrition, health and human development.
“It taught me to look at nutrition not only from an individual perspective, but also from the perspective of families, communities and public health,” she says.
Her decision to study at UNIMA was also influenced by her uncle, Mr. Biswas Ismael, who had studied at the same institution. He supported her education and encouraged her to continue pursuing her dreams, particularly during times when her parents could not provide the support she needed.
“My uncle has been one of the greatest pillars of my educational journey. He supported me, encouraged me and believed in me,” Zaheedah says.
When she chose UNIMA, her uncle was happy. For Zaheedah, graduating from the same university where he had studied became a special way of appreciating his sacrifices and making him proud.
“When I got selected to pursue my degree at UNIMA, he was very happy. I wanted to make him proud and graduating from the same university where he studied made the achievement even more special,” she says.
Her university journey was not always easy. Some courses required a lot of dedication, critical thinking and perseverance. However, the challenges taught her important lessons that went beyond the classroom.
“I learned that success is not always about having an easy journey. Sometimes, it is about continuing even when things become difficult,” she says.
Today, Zaheedah's graduation means even more because she is the first girl in her community to graduate from university.
“For me, this achievement is bigger than just me. I want other young girls in my community to see that university education is possible and that they can build careers and achieve their dreams,” she says.
She also wants her achievement to inspire young people regardless of gender.
“I also want to inspire boys and young people in general. Education is important for everyone, regardless of gender.”
Zaheedah encourages young girls not to allow their circumstances to determine the size of their dreams.
“Challenges do not mean that your dreams are impossible. If you have an opportunity to pursue education, take it seriously, work hard and remain focused,” she says.
Zaheedah believes education offers much more than the possibility of getting a job.
“Education gives you knowledge, confidence and independence. It also gives you the ability to contribute to your family and community.”
Now that she has graduated, Zaheedah sees this achievement as the beginning of another chapter. She hopes to gain practical experience in Food and Nutrition and eventually pursue further studies and specialise in an area where she can make a greater impact.
She is particularly interested in using her knowledge to improve nutrition and health in communities, especially among families and children facing nutrition challenges.
She also hopes to give back to others in the same way her uncle invested in her education.
“My uncle invested in my education and helped me get to where I am today. I hope that one day I will also be in a position to support another young person's education,” she says.
Congratulations and all the best for the future. 🎓🎓
Written by Bright Malenga .
