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Nigerian in London Sets World Academic Record

By Josiah Emerole, Abuja

Lagos: - A Nigerian student in the United Kingdom, Osita Onuma, has set a new academic record at the university of London, scoring 98.85 on a scale of 100 points in the 1998/99 post graduate program of the institution.

Onuma, an engineer who had earlier made a grade point average (GPA) of 4.96 out of 5 at the University of Nigeria has by the latest feat been adjudged the best post-graduate student in the 124 years history of post graduate program of the University of London.

In a letter of congratulation, President Olusegun Obasanjo said that Onuma has, by the feat made the country and continent proud. Said he, "You have proved, once again, that quality always triumphs despite seemingly insurmountable odds. I am proud of you. Nigeria is proud of you; Africa is proud of you. I dare say that the university is proud of you. We share in their joy and in the joy of your parents who must have sown the seeds that have so wonderfully blossomed. "Too often, we speak of a role model, if anyone deserves that appellation, Osita, it is you; particularly for our youth. I hope your achievements will inspire us in all our different endeavors such that we may succeed." The President has, however, directed the Nigeria High Commissioner in London, Prince Bola Ajibola, to represent him at the convocation of the institution where Onuma is to read a valedictory address.

While congratulating him, President Obasanjo said he would be glad to receive Onuma at the Presidential Villa whenever he is in Nigeria. Onuma’s feat was recorded at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine of the University of London. By this feat, Onuma has joined the group of Nigerians that have brought honor to the country as a result of their excellence in their chosen fields. One of such Nigerians is Mr. Philip Emeagwali who achieved the highest computational speed of 3.1 billion calculations per second using the principle of parallel computing. This feat has made the United States government to hold on to Emeagwali for most high speed computational programs including the oil industry and the Department of Defence (DOD).

Emeagwali’s principle of parallel computing is today widely adopted by Information Technology companies including IBM which applied the same principle to build Deep Blue, the high speed computing machine that beatworld chess grandmaster Kasparov to his game.

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