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| Dr Tanimu |
Friendly lecturers impart knowledge better, says 28-year-old Phd holder
Gazali Tanimu, 28, has emerged as best
graduating PhD student in Chemical Engineering at the King Fahad University of
Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
graduating PhD student in Chemical Engineering at the King Fahad University of
Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Tanimu, who was Ahmadu Bello University
(ABU) Zaria’s best graduating student in 2012 and now teaches at the same
institution, told ABDULSALAM MAHMUD, in an exclusive chat, that some lecturers’
attitude negatively affect students’ performance. Excerpts.
(ABU) Zaria’s best graduating student in 2012 and now teaches at the same
institution, told ABDULSALAM MAHMUD, in an exclusive chat, that some lecturers’
attitude negatively affect students’ performance. Excerpts.
How has your journey to King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals
(KFUPM) been?
(KFUPM) been?
Well, I first got to know about KFUPM through some
senior colleagues in 2012. Then I was still an undergraduate and in my final
year at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. But I later got to know more about
the specialised Saudi university through my elder brother and one of our
neighbours who were both offered a post-graduate admission by KFUPM. After I
graduated from ABU in 2012, I applied and the university instantly offered me a
scholarship. The scholarship is meant for persons who graduated with either
First Class or Second Class Upper from some selected countries. It was then
called “Full-time scholarship by the Ministry of Higher Education Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia”. Among other things, the scholarship covers tuition fee, stipend,
housing, textbooks and healthcare. Around mid-2014, KFUPM sent me my visa
authorisation number through e-mail. But it was not until August of the same
year, that I finally departed Nigeria for Saudi to begin my M.Sc. programme at
KFUPM.
senior colleagues in 2012. Then I was still an undergraduate and in my final
year at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. But I later got to know more about
the specialised Saudi university through my elder brother and one of our
neighbours who were both offered a post-graduate admission by KFUPM. After I
graduated from ABU in 2012, I applied and the university instantly offered me a
scholarship. The scholarship is meant for persons who graduated with either
First Class or Second Class Upper from some selected countries. It was then
called “Full-time scholarship by the Ministry of Higher Education Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia”. Among other things, the scholarship covers tuition fee, stipend,
housing, textbooks and healthcare. Around mid-2014, KFUPM sent me my visa
authorisation number through e-mail. But it was not until August of the same
year, that I finally departed Nigeria for Saudi to begin my M.Sc. programme at
KFUPM.
What were your academic feats at KFUPM?
To the special grace of
God, I graduated with Distinction after successfully defending my M.Sc. thesis
in May 2016. Considering the outstanding grade I completed with in my Master’s,
KFUPM offered me another admission to do my PhD. To the glory of Almighty Allah
again, I just graduated as the best PhD student in Chemical Engineering during
KFUPM’s 2019 post-graduate convocation in March this year.
God, I graduated with Distinction after successfully defending my M.Sc. thesis
in May 2016. Considering the outstanding grade I completed with in my Master’s,
KFUPM offered me another admission to do my PhD. To the glory of Almighty Allah
again, I just graduated as the best PhD student in Chemical Engineering during
KFUPM’s 2019 post-graduate convocation in March this year.
Were you always the best among
your school mates?
your school mates?
I don’t mean to sound
pompous, but the truth is, I always emerged tops among my classmates right from
the outset. I was the best graduating student in my primary school. I
replicated the same feat in my secondary school and then in 2012, I emerged as
the overall best graduating student at the convocation ceremony of ABU.
Personally, I think it is my Creator’s doing. I thank him for blessing me with
a razor-sharp intellect. The exceptional mentors I came across in my academic
journey, also contributed immensely to my accomplishments at various schools.
pompous, but the truth is, I always emerged tops among my classmates right from
the outset. I was the best graduating student in my primary school. I
replicated the same feat in my secondary school and then in 2012, I emerged as
the overall best graduating student at the convocation ceremony of ABU.
Personally, I think it is my Creator’s doing. I thank him for blessing me with
a razor-sharp intellect. The exceptional mentors I came across in my academic
journey, also contributed immensely to my accomplishments at various schools.
Did you encounter language barrier at KFUPM,
since Arabic is Saudi’s language?
since Arabic is Saudi’s language?
The King Fahad University
and most of the universities offering post-graduate studies in the Kingdom use
English as medium of instruction. So, I and other foreign students at KFUPM did
not encounter any kind of language barrier.
and most of the universities offering post-graduate studies in the Kingdom use
English as medium of instruction. So, I and other foreign students at KFUPM did
not encounter any kind of language barrier.
What inspired you to study Chemical Engineering at ABU?
Initially, I had two courses that were my priorities.
They are Medicine and Chemical Engineering. And this is because I was very good
in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics, which are core science
subjects. At that time, I approached my tutors and I was strongly advised to
choose the one I prefer most. They were confident I could do well in both
courses. I got to know that both Medicine and Chemical Engineering have bright
prospects, based on the discussions I had with those studying them. So it was
really difficult to make decision. But as fate will have it, I finally settled
for Chemical Engineering. And there have been no regrets so far.
They are Medicine and Chemical Engineering. And this is because I was very good
in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics, which are core science
subjects. At that time, I approached my tutors and I was strongly advised to
choose the one I prefer most. They were confident I could do well in both
courses. I got to know that both Medicine and Chemical Engineering have bright
prospects, based on the discussions I had with those studying them. So it was
really difficult to make decision. But as fate will have it, I finally settled
for Chemical Engineering. And there have been no regrets so far.
What methodology did lecturers at
KFUPM use to enhance your performance and other students’?
KFUPM use to enhance your performance and other students’?
Over here, the lecturers are very, very friendly,
unassuming and hospitable towards students. The aspect of lecturer-student
interactions is quite high and absolutely impressive. This is possibly due to
the moderate ratio of students to lecturers in various departments at KFUPM.
Also, the lecturers have office hours, which is an avenue for students to table
their complaints before their lecturers. In return, they politely counsel their
students. The lecturers and supervisors over there assist in proffering
solutions to students’ academic problems. And that is how it should be. Lecturers
in every tertiary institution, should not incite fears into the minds of their
students. They should eschew threatening students with carryovers. They should
rather be epitomes of humility, kindness and compassion, who desire the best
for their students. Some lecturers in Nigeria can be said to be the reason students
perform badly in school. And categorically, I think friendly and erudite
lecturers impart productive knowledge better than harsh and unfriendly
lecturers.
unassuming and hospitable towards students. The aspect of lecturer-student
interactions is quite high and absolutely impressive. This is possibly due to
the moderate ratio of students to lecturers in various departments at KFUPM.
Also, the lecturers have office hours, which is an avenue for students to table
their complaints before their lecturers. In return, they politely counsel their
students. The lecturers and supervisors over there assist in proffering
solutions to students’ academic problems. And that is how it should be. Lecturers
in every tertiary institution, should not incite fears into the minds of their
students. They should eschew threatening students with carryovers. They should
rather be epitomes of humility, kindness and compassion, who desire the best
for their students. Some lecturers in Nigeria can be said to be the reason students
perform badly in school. And categorically, I think friendly and erudite
lecturers impart productive knowledge better than harsh and unfriendly
lecturers.
How
come you, as a Nigerian, performed
brilliantly at KFUPM?
come you, as a Nigerian, performed
brilliantly at KFUPM?
I adopted no any special
way of studying at KFUPM. It is just that the university had already provided a
conducive environment for students to study efficiently. The only thing is
that, I was surrounded with erudite mentors that armed me with necessary advice
and mentorship at every point in time. During my PhD research, I was lucky to
receive proper guidance and instructions from the consultant professors at
KFUPM Research Institute. I gained a lot from their rich expertise, which
enabled me to have an excellent research output. Also, I cannot forget to thank
my project supervisors for their beneficial tutelage.
way of studying at KFUPM. It is just that the university had already provided a
conducive environment for students to study efficiently. The only thing is
that, I was surrounded with erudite mentors that armed me with necessary advice
and mentorship at every point in time. During my PhD research, I was lucky to
receive proper guidance and instructions from the consultant professors at
KFUPM Research Institute. I gained a lot from their rich expertise, which
enabled me to have an excellent research output. Also, I cannot forget to thank
my project supervisors for their beneficial tutelage.
Can we know what your PhD
research is all about?
research is all about?
The research I carried out in my PhD programme was entitled,
“Novel Process for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of LPG to High-Value Olefins”.
It falls under refining and petrochemicals; where by Liquefied Petroleum Gas
(low-value product) is converted to ethylene, propylene and butadiene
(high-value products). The target of the research was to improve on the
selectivity of olefins and diolefins from Normal Butane (N-Butane). So what we
were able to achieve was a catalyst designed base on commercially available
metal oxides which gave good performance (in terms of activity, selectivity and
stability) for the desired products. And the desired products are ethylene,
propylene and butadiene, which are the backbone of most petrochemical
industries.
“Novel Process for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of LPG to High-Value Olefins”.
It falls under refining and petrochemicals; where by Liquefied Petroleum Gas
(low-value product) is converted to ethylene, propylene and butadiene
(high-value products). The target of the research was to improve on the
selectivity of olefins and diolefins from Normal Butane (N-Butane). So what we
were able to achieve was a catalyst designed base on commercially available
metal oxides which gave good performance (in terms of activity, selectivity and
stability) for the desired products. And the desired products are ethylene,
propylene and butadiene, which are the backbone of most petrochemical
industries.
What is the next plan after
obtaining PhD?
obtaining PhD?
I am a patriotic
Nigerian. Therefore, the only plan I am nursing now is how to gather my luggage
and head back to my country. I am so passionate about contributing my own quota
towards the sustainable development of our Fatherland. Furthermore, I want to contribute
my quota towards the accelerated growth of science and technology in Nigeria as
an academic.
Nigerian. Therefore, the only plan I am nursing now is how to gather my luggage
and head back to my country. I am so passionate about contributing my own quota
towards the sustainable development of our Fatherland. Furthermore, I want to contribute
my quota towards the accelerated growth of science and technology in Nigeria as
an academic.
What if KFUPM decides to employ
you as a lecturer?
you as a lecturer?
Already, I had a job in Nigeria before coming to the
Kingdom. I work with ABU as a lecturer. I only came here for a study
fellowship. So I plan to return to ABU very soon, and impart the knowledge I
garnered in my students.
Kingdom. I work with ABU as a lecturer. I only came here for a study
fellowship. So I plan to return to ABU very soon, and impart the knowledge I
garnered in my students.
Which day was your most memorable
at King Fahad University?
at King Fahad University?
My most memorable moment was when I got A+ in all the
courses I registered for a particular semester. Let me also say that I will
live to remember the auspicious occasion of my PhD convocation, where I was
called out as the best PhD graduating student from the department of Chemical
Engineering. It was a fulfilling moment for me, honestly.
courses I registered for a particular semester. Let me also say that I will
live to remember the auspicious occasion of my PhD convocation, where I was
called out as the best PhD graduating student from the department of Chemical
Engineering. It was a fulfilling moment for me, honestly.