50 Nigerians make first-class from Malaysian university

ut of the 253 Nigerians who graduated in various academic disciplines at the 2015 convocation ceremony of the Linton University College, Malaysia, 50 made first class honours, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund has said.

According to the Fund, 35 PTDF scholars were among the 253 Nigerians who graduated at the 2015 convocation ceremony which was done in collaboration with the University of East London and Coventry University, United Kingdom.

The Fund, in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday said, “Altogether 50 Nigerian graduates distinguished themselves with first class honours, among whom were 13 PTDF scholars who earned first class degrees in Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Business Management and Civil Engineering.”

The Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to Malaysia, Mrs. Janet Odeka, according to the statement, said the unprecedented achievement of the Nigerian scholars in the university in Malaysia had contributed in creating a positive image for Nigerians living in the country.

She said, “I am really excited and grateful because this is the first time we are having such number of graduates who produced good results such as first class and second class upper. We have had students from Nigeria who were involved in criminal activities and other immoral acts, but for the first time, we are celebrating something we should be proud of as Nigerians and I wish to appeal to Nigerians here that they should emulate what these graduands have done to attract a good name for Nigeria.”

The Executive Secretary, PTDF, Mr. Femi Ajayi, urged the graduands to take advantage of the opportunities opening up in Nigeria under a new administration to deploy their new skills and knowledge.

He said, “Rather than being skeptical about the future and apprehensive about job opportunities back home in Nigeria, you should be excited, knowing that a new chapter has opened that provides the enabling environment for those who genuinely wish to make it in Nigeria.”

Ajayi said their areas of specialisation which are engineering-related would serve as stepping stones for building the bridges between opportunities and dreams.

He said, “This is something to be very proud of and excited about, particularly when you know the areas they specialise in. We have high hopes on them. If you have people who have excelled, the thing to do is to deploy their knowledge in the right direction. Some will proceed for their masters and PhDs and for those who want to work, we will link them up with available job opportunities in Nigeria.

“With the kind of knowledge and experience they have here, I am hopeful that their skills and knowledge will be readily utilised in Nigeria and I will encourage them to go back home.”