Nigerian and indigene of Sokoto State, Muftahu Jibrin Salihu Goronyo from Goronyo Local Government Area has emerged the first African to graduate with a first class in Master of Educational Leadership and Management of the University of Southern Queensland, Australia, but based in Malaysia.

Accordingly, Goronyo’s academic excellence fetched him two separate offers from different universities, including an automatic admission and scholarship by his university to undergo a three-year Ph.D programme between 2012 and 2015.

A congratulatory letter signed by Jim Campbell, Senior Media Co-ordinator of the university stated: "Firstly I can say a big congratulations on your upcoming – You should be very proud of this achievement. Besides bagging a first class degree, you are the only African student in the upcoming graduation, above all, the only Nigerian student who graduated from the university since its inception in 1971.”

The 26-year old must, however, serve the university for 10 years upon graduation until 2025. The Nation gathered that, Goronyo had turned down the offer for the love of Nigeria and patriotism.

The second offer of automatic admission by Ahia e-University, based in Malaysia, came open to Salihu but without scholarship.

However, his elder brother Alhaji Mohammed Umar who is also the General Manager of the Sokoto state newspaper company, appealed to well-spirited individuals in the state and government to sponsor his postgraduate studies.

"He should be sponsored to complete the Ph.D degree for three years as he wants to come back to Nigeria and serve the state and the nation after his graduation in 2015,’’ he said. The Nation