Toyosi Craig, a 30-year-old Nigerian engineer has been named the most outstanding student in South Africa.
Craig bagged the honour at the Nigeria Community Excellence Award held last Satuday at the Encore Theater Complex, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa.
The award was attended by officials of the Nigerian High Commission and Consulate, top government officials from Nigeria, members of Nigerian community in South Africa, top South African government officials and members of African Diaspora.
The most outstanding student category of the award was introduced this year and was sponsored by Old Mutual South Africa, to honour the best performing Nigerian student in the country.
Craig, a PhD student in Engineering Management with a special focus on solar energy at the Stellenbosch University, South Africa, emerged the winner in the most outstanding student category from the three nominees that were chosen from the over 400 students who took part in the contest.
The Abeokuta, Ogun State born Craig, who just finished a project on development by innovation for Africa at Technical University of Munich, Germany, was chosen on his academic accomplishments and research innovations, particularly his area of research interest, which is innovation management and systems analysis.
Craig, who said that he flew from Germany to Pretoria to receive the award, thanked God, the award organizer, his family and social media network, Penpushing, where he is a member, for the genuine support and encouragement from the members.
Meanwhile, the Founder of Penpushing, Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, has expressed delight on the award and congratulated Craig for making Nigeria proud.
“This noble platform, which you are a member, is proud of your feat in making your country, Nigeria, proud and bringing it to a global stage in a positive way and manner,” Kayode-Adedeji said in the congratulatory message.
“We wish to congratulate you on your award as the 2017 Most Outstanding Nigerian Student,” he said, adding: “No doubt, your sterling quality is a major factor which contributed to your emergence as the best among the 400 nominations. This is remarkable, inspiring and encouraging.”
The Penpushing founder further said: “As we congratulate you, we also encourage you to further show commitment and exhibit competence in your field of choice in your profession and other endeavours.
“We pray that God will be your guide and guardian. Once again, accept our congratulatory message, and we wish you more successes.”
