Nigerian Boy, Daniel Obaji, Becomes The Youngest Ever Graduate In NYU Abu Dhabi

18-year-old Daniel Obaji, a biology main can be beginning his PhD in New York this September

Baby prodigy Daniel Obaji has come of age, as he prepares to turn out to be New York College Abu Dhabi’s youngest ever graduate.

The gifted biology pupil, 18, will obtain his honours at a ceremony full of college students a few years his senior on Monday.

Being the youngest within the class is nothing new for the intense teenager, nevertheless, who moved to Abu Dhabi from Nigeria to pursue his research when solely 15.

Now he’s set to pack his luggage once more, to start the most recent leg of his educational profession at New York College in the US.

Daniel admits it took him a short while to get used to being the speak of the campus, however now he has expertise that belies his youth.

“Folks having that picture of me was tough to take care of. It was arduous to come back throughout as being something extra than simply the youngest individual on campus,” mentioned Daniel.

Daniel’s outstanding success story began in Edo, in southern Nigeria, the place he began faculty on the age of two.

“I began education very early on the age of two as a result of my mom was going to nursing faculty. On the similar time, she admitted me at school.

“I used to be in kindergarten in the identical class with my sister, who was 4 years previous.

“I skipped a number of grades and shortly turned used to being the youngest individual in my class. I had a 3 to four-year head begin on everybody else.”

In fourth grade, his faculty wished him to skip a grade as a result of his educational progress however he didn’t meet the peak necessities.

“On the age of 11, I went to a paramilitary boarding faculty the place everybody had to determine survive and nobody cared about how previous you had been.”

In school, he encountered the identical challenges that each freshman faces.

“Once I reached NYU Abu Dhabi, I used to be frightened about the identical issues that everybody worries about – like saying goodbye to my buddies, determining housing and lessons.”

So long as you place your thoughts to one thing and put in effort, you’ll get the outcomes that you really want

Daniel Obaji

Daniel’s mom, who works as a neighborhood well being employee in Edo, Nigeria, was stuffed with satisfaction when he was accepted at NYU Abu Dhabi

Whereas he quickly discovered his toes within the lecture corridor, Daniel did have difficulties tackling ‘life admin’ at such a younger age, with chopping by varied pink tape, together with visa functions, posing an issue.

His experiences will stand him in good stead as he seems ahead to a brand new journey in America.

Daniel will examine for his PhD in biology in New York.

His specialty is in neuroscience and is specializing in computational biology, which is a mix of pc research and biology.

Although others might discover it unusual that an 18-year-old is heading for doctoral research, the journey feels pure to Daniel.

“I completed a chapter of my life and my PhD is the following chapter.

I’m not making an attempt to interrupt any developments. Regardless of the place you might be from or how previous you might be, so long as you place your thoughts to one thing and put in effort, you’ll get the outcomes that you really want.”

“For me the conversations with my buddies and listening to about their experiences and the range of opinions was the spotlight of my days at NYU Abu Dhabi.”

The coed concerned with molecular biology, desires to be often known as far more than simply the youngest pupil on campus.

On Monday, Daniel can be considered one of 275 college students from 75 international locations introduced with their levels at NYU Abu Dhabi’s graduation ceremony.

Bonnie St John, a former White Home official, a double medal winner in snowboarding on the Paralympics, a Rhodes scholar and an creator, will ship the keynote tackle.

NYU Abu Dhabi’s class of 2019 is the biggest on the college thus far.