According to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), 13 of the Malaysian graduates were its scholars. At the 2015 convocation ceremony which was done in collaboration with the University of East London and Coventry University, United Kingdom, its scholars excelled beyond belief.
Femi Ajayi, the PTDF's executive secretary, 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. 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.”
Janet Odeka, Nigeria's acting high commissioner to Malaysia, added that the unprecedented achievement of the Nigerian scholars in the university had contributed in creating a positive image for Nigerians living in the country. In the past, Nigerians had a very bad reputation in Malaysia, where they were associated with drug trafficking.
Ms Odeka 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 graduates have done to attract a good name for Nigeria.”
Mr Ajayi urged the graduates to take advantage of the opportunities opening up in Nigeria under a new administration to deploy their new skills and knowledge. He added that their areas of specialisation which are engineering-related, would serve as stepping stones for building the bridges between opportunities and dreams.
“Rather than being sceptical 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. 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 as 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," Mr Ajayi added.
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