How I emerged best PhD graduate in Saudi Arabia at 28 — Gazali

Gazali Tanimu is a Nigerian, who emerged as the best graduating PhD student in Chemical Engineering at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia. In this interview, he spoke about his challenges and successes as he clocks 28 years shortly.

It is also easier to get Ph.D directly after finishing Masters, thereby ensuring continuity in research, unlike other countries. As a Muslim, it is an extra avenue to exercise your religious duty (hajj and umrah).

You came out tops. What were the challenges you faced in Saudi Arabia?

The major challenge is the academic challenge; this has to do with the initial difficulty in blending with their graduate students. This is because, most of their students have better foundation in most of the courses resulting from the rigorous teaching and effective training received in their undergraduate. Secondly, their grading system is completely different from the Nigerian system.

I didn’t allow that distract me, I stayed focused and committed to my primary goal, I studied hard day and night.

This also helped me in graduating as the best student in Chemical Engineering at KFUPM. You are graded relatively; your grades depend on the highest scores in the course which resulted in an ‘unhealthy’ competition among students.

Research is very convenient as it is being facilitated through the provision of an enabling environment, adequate modern and state-of-art laboratory equipment and utilities. Also, for funded research projects, there is additional stipend which encourages more dedication and a promising research output.