No fewer than 50 Nigerians out of the 253 students
who graduated in various academic disciplines at
the 2015 convocation ceremony of the Linton
University College Malaysia made first class
honours.
According to the Petroleum Technology
Development Fund, 35 PTDF scholars were
among the 253 Nigerians who graduated at the
2015 convocation ceremony which was done in
collaboration with 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 degrees, 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,
on his part called on the graduands to take
advantage of the opportunities that were
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 in Nigeria that provides the enabling
environment for those who genuinely wish to
make it in Nigeria.”
He said, “This is something to be very proud of
and excited about, particularly when you know
the areas they specialise. We have high hopes
for 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 PhD 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.”