At first, I thought the email I received was a scam, so I deleted it without much consideration. However, I soon began receiving follow-up emails from the same two gentlemen and one lady, this time with their curriculum vitae attached. It became evident that they were genuinely interested in pursuing their PhD studies under my supervision, and they were all the way from Nigeria.

They even sent me brief proposals via email. While the initial proposals were relatively simple and did not fully meet the typical PhD standards, I saw potential in them that could be expanded and developed into meaningful research.

Eventually, I met all three students, each arriving a semester apart. Dr. Elizabeth Julius came first, followed by Dr. Muhammad Sani in the next semester, and finally, Dr. Muhammad Nasiru. To be honest, I had some familiarity with Nigeria due to my deep love for geography; I had done my homework on its provinces, cultures, and more.

Like all my students, I treated them fairly and equally. In the beginning, they were uncertain about the direction of their research, but I continued to guide and motivate them. I encouraged them to pursue research that would benefit their country, even if it seemed small in scope. Since all of them were lecturers in Nigeria, their research primarily focused on higher education and university students.

When I asked Dr. Muhammad Sani what he had learned from me that he applies in his workplace, he responded, “Dr. Halim is academically sound and morally disciplined. He was part of the team that taught us academic writing, critical thinking, and research methodology during our coursework modules. The feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive. His punctuality and responsiveness to departmental duties are commendable. He is a vibrant and dedicated supervisor, with collaborative publications in areas such as geometrical thinking, mathematical thinking, problem-solving, and pedagogy.”

He then added, “The three years I spent with Dr. Halim were short but impactful. His hardworking, honest, and diligent nature taught me the art of publishing in high-index journals and encouraged me to attend workshops and conferences within and outside UTM. I now apply what he taught me in my current role back at my university.”

Dr. Muhammad Sani is currently serving at Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria. He was the Departmental Seminar & Conference Coordinator from 2020 to 2022 and currently holds several positions, including Head of the Mathematics Department (since 2021), BSc Admission Officer (since 2024), and Deputy Director of BSc Programs at the Directorate of Higher Studies (since 2024).

When I asked him about his experiences beyond academics, he shared the following:

“This thesis would be incomplete without highlighting Dr. Halim’s humanitarian side, which has inspired many young people to view him as a role model. He sponsored the majority of my conferences and journal publications and provided financial assistance during a challenging time when my wife gave birth prematurely on June 29, 2020, at Sultanah Hospital in Johor Bahru. I believe you will find him to be a resourceful, committed, and promising individual if given the opportunity.”

Thank you, Dr. Muhammad Sani, for your heartfelt reflections.

I then posed the same question to Dr. Muhammad Nasiru, who responded:

“One of Dr. Halim’s most outstanding qualities is his problem-solving ability when addressing research-related challenges. I learned so much from him, which ultimately led to my publications in reputable journals. His dedication and attentiveness to his students helped many of us complete our theses on time. As a result, I was able to finish my thesis within five semesters and maintain a high quality of work.”

Dr. Muhammad Nasiru is currently a lecturer at Sokoto State University in Sokoto State, Nigeria. He previously served as the Head of the Department of Science Education (2022–2025) and the Director of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (2021–2025). He is now the Director of Examinations and Registration at the university.

As I mentioned earlier, Dr. Elizabeth Julius was my first PhD student from Nigeria. She came to UTM alone, and at the time, she was pregnant. I admired her sacrifice in leaving her family to pursue her PhD. I helped her secure a more comfortable place to live and supported her during her delivery. I still remember how, during our progress meetings, she would carry her baby on her back, wrapped in a traditional cloth. Her strength and dedication left a lasting impression on me. She is currently a lecturer in the Department of Science Education at the Faculty of Education, Kebbi State University of Science & Technology in Aliero, Nigeria.

I wish Dr. Muhammad Sani, Dr. Muhammad Nasiru, and Dr. Elizabeth Julius continued success in their academic careers. May our professional relationship endure and continue to inspire excellence across borders.

Associate Prof. Dr. Abdul Halim Abdullah
Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia