12 Jun 2016

Excellence is achieved through hard work and determination. 

Seikaego Mmereki, a young man born in Maubelo, grew up in Mochudi where he completed his Cambridge International Examination at Raserura Secondary School.

“I didn’t know I was a brilliant student until I started excelling in standard six at Raserura Primary School.”

Seikaego said he was the best student in the whole country for the PSLE examination in 2010 and he received an excellence award in English and overall best student in Botswana.

He said after attending two terms at Kgamanyane Junior Secondary School he received a scholarship to complete his secondary education from Raserura school director, Ms Godfridah Kapena.

“I was so happy because it’s not everyone who receives such an opportunity. My heart was overjoyed and I remember crying that day because God had blessed me.”

Seikaego attained 6 A*s and 3 As and he gained the highest mark in the world for Cambridge IGCSE agriculture in November 2015 examinations attaining an A* grade with an average of 97 per cent.

He said it was through hard work, passion and perseverance that he was able to achieve exceptional grades in his IGCSE examinations. 

He said his motivation also came from previous top achievers in the country. 

The 19-year-old encouraged other students to work hard and find someone who could mentor and motivate them in their academic work.

“I think the biggest mistake that most students make is ‘studying hard’ but not ‘studying smart’.  

The difference is that when you study hard you learn to memorise and eventually forget what had been said but when you study smart you learn the most important concepts and in that way you can never go wrong so I encourage students to start ‘studying smart’ so that they can achieve remarkable grades,” he said

He thanked his parents, his aunt, Sister Ontlametse Mmereki and Raserura School management.

“I would like to thank my agriculture teacher Mr Simakando and my Setswana teacher Ms Makwatsi for encouraging and supporting me throughout and mostly I would like to thank God for giving me this opportunity and the gift he placed in my life.”

The principal of Raserura, Mr Bwalya Mwewa said Seikaego has always been an exemplary student.

He said he was made the head boy because of his outstanding behaviour, discipline and maturity.

He said he was also chosen as the chairperson of the Scripture Union at school as he never overlooked God in everything he did.

“Mmereki Seikaego would grab almost all the certificates during prize giving at school, even his colleagues knew that he was a brilliant student who performed to the level best.”

Mr Mwewa said the best gift a student can have is the knowledge of God and education. 

He noted that if students learn to respect, listen to their parents and shun the wrong they will end up like Seikaego.

“I am very grateful to Seikaego because he has not only raised the flag of Raserura but Botswana and Africa as a whole. 

Thank you Seikaego for achieving that and I thank God for his parents and his teachers for raising such a brilliant young man,” said Mwewa. ENDS