He continued his education at St. Francis Xavier Senior High School to pursue General Science as a course.
He earned the name ‘Dr. Ningwie Leonard Lanyeli’ from his ambition to become a doctor.
With this ambition, he scored 6 As in the WASSCE exam and B2, B3, and B2 in biology, English, and social studies, in 2007.
Not only the final results indicate the academic prospects, but the participation in the NSMQ quiz in 2007.
The 33-year-old gained admission at the University of Cape Coast to read medicine but was thwarted as his parents could not afford the high tuition fees at the time.
He then enrolled at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to study as a doctor of optometry.
He told JoyNews that “I got admission to read medicine at the University of Cape Coast with a fee of GH¢ 4,100 a year and my father is a teacher who could not afford the fees so I chose to read optometry at KNUST .”
One of Leonard’s senior high school friends, Emmanuel Belig, now a Pharmacist at Wa regional Medical store said “Back at St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary, he [Leonard] there used to be a ‘Dr’ attached to his name. So we call him ‘Dr’.
Leonard said during his first four years at KNUST, he did well until he developed mental health problems.
His mother, Ninwie Gladys, 60, said one of Leonard’s university friends took him to his hometown and he returned in the same condition.
He stated that “I have a clue that a friend at university took Leo to his hometown and he came back in this condition.”
Leonard said he was forced to take a break from university studies in order to seek medical treatment at Pantang Psychiatric Hospital in 2013, adding that doctors later diagnosed him with bipolar disorder.
“There is a certificate hanging in that empty room that shows that I still hold the record as the spelling champion at RS Pantang when I participated in a quiz competition during my stay for medical health. I speak to people who are smart and capable. teach a lot of people,” Leonard said.
He indicated that he later returned to university in 2014 after a successful rehabilitation and performed well but remained there.
Ninwie Gladys said Leonard’s father died on August 13, 2011.
A former biology tutor at St. Francis Xavier Junior Seminary, Site Bayaa describes him as an intelligent man and could have been one of the best Scientists or medical doctors in Ghana if he had not been afflicted with the disease.
But Leonard said if he had another chance, he would go back to school but “I just want a simple course – public health nursing or teacher training so I can help my friends. I really know how to help.”
His family and friends believed that he was born good, and that if he got immediate intervention, he would do well in life.