“Greet and Meet Session” between UniSZA, Kano Students and Nigerian Delegates.

In conjunction with the conferment of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership to the Kano State Governor, Engr. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso at the 6th Convocation ceremony of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, the International Student Centre (INTEC) hosted some prominent delegates from Kano State, Nigeria as well as from the Nigerian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, in a meeting with the Kano students who are pursuing their postgraduate studies at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin. The Nigerian entourage comprised Dr Umar Shehu Minjibir (Head of the Civil Service in Kano State, who represented His Excellency the Governor), His Excellency Ambassador Bello Shehu Ringim (High Commissioner of Nigeria in Malaysia), Adeniyi Oyemade (Counsellor of Education and Student Welfare at the Nigerian High Commission), and Abu Bakar Shehu Minjibir (Director of the Journalism Institute of Kano State). Meanwhile, UniSZA was represented by Prof. Dr. Mahadzirah binti Mohamad (Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and International), Dr. Adam Abdullah (Director of the International Student Centre), Ahmad Taufik Hidayah Abdullah (Deputy Director of the International Student Centre), Prof. Dr. Mustafa Mamat (Dean of the Graduate School), Dr. Fatma Susilawati binti Mohamad (Deputy Dean of the Graduate School), and Cornelius Anuar Abdullah McAfee (Deputy Director, Corporate and International Communication Centre).

This friendly and cordial meeting session was opened with warm welcoming remarks from the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and International, Prof. Dr. Mahadzirah binti Mohamad, who highlighted that significant progress was made by the students, as well as their welfare that had been taken care of by UniSZA. In his speech, Dr Umar Shehu Minjibir thanked and praised UniSZA for having well taken care of their students during their studies here. He also emphasized that the current students from Kano at UniSZA are just the beginning and a sizeable number of students are going to be sent again in the future as they find UniSZA a very conducive place to study. Meanwhile, the Nigerian High Commissioner of Nigeria in Malaysia, His Excellency Bello Shehu Ringim, also gave some positive comments and remarks about UniSZA based on the feedback given by the Kano students themselves.

During the session, the Kano students were represented by Muhamad Rabiu Danlami, who is also the Assistant Secretary for the International Students Society. He gave a speech on behalf of the Kano students studying at UniSZA. He thanked both the Kano State government for sending them to study at UniSZA, the Nigerian High Commission in Malaysia and above all the host university, UniSZA who has given them full assistance and provided a very conducive environment for learning.

The session ended with a group photo session and the delegates from Nigeria then proceeded to attend a high tea, which was hosted by our Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Yahaya Ibrahim, at his residence. It is hoped that this good relationship between the two countries, especially between the Kano State government and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) involving education, will become a catalyst for more cooperation in the future that can mutually benefit both countries.