Amazing Nigerian Sets Records in Japan, Builds Cars, Becomes First African to Get First Class
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
An exceptional Nigerian engineer, Ufot Ekong, has broken a 50-year-old record by becoming the first African to graduate with a first-class degree from Tokai University’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department in Japan.
Ekong, originally from Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria, achieved the feat and also earned his Master of Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, setting a new record for the highest score in the institution’s 81-year history.
Ekong’s academic excellence has led to numerous achievements in his career.
He is currently developing cars for Nissan and has two patented products, including an electric car that he built himself.
In his first semester at Tokai University, he solved a mathematical equation that had remained unsolved for 30 years.
However, due to a confidentiality agreement regarding electric vehicles, he and his team cannot discuss details of their research, patents, and trade secrets.
Exceptionally, Ekong is fluent in English, Japanese, French, Yoruba, and Ibibio, and his success is another example of Nigerians’ academic brilliance and exploitation when they study abroad.
Many Nigerians have excelled in various fields, including academia, innovation, technology, and more.
Renowned figures such as Prof Wole Soyinka, Adebayo Ogunlesi, and Bennet Omalu have all made significant contributions to their respective fields, showcasing Nigeria’s academic prowess on a global scale.
