In another inspiring story of Nigerian excellence abroad, 24-year-old Fatima Az-zahra Binti Nasiru-Tsafe, a native of Zamfara State, has made headlines in Malaysia after being crowned the overall best cadet at the prestigious Royal Malaysian Navy Reserve graduation ceremony.
The brilliant young woman, who was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Cadet Officer at the colourful event, drew admiration from the Malaysian Navy community for her discipline, leadership, and academic brilliance.
Currently a final-year student of Industrial Physics with Electronics at the University of Malaysia, Sabah, Nasiru-Tsafe is already being tipped to graduate as the overall best in her department, with records showing she has scored distinctions in every course since her first year.
In a report gathered by News Chronicle from the University’s Academic Services Division, Nasiru-Tsafe’s results place her ahead of her peers, a record that confirms her steady academic excellence over the years.
Born in Malaysia in 2001, she is the second of four children in the family of Dr. Nasir Tsafe Umar-Tsafe, a Nigerian toxicology scholar, and Associate Professor Dr. Rohana Mat Nor, a respected academic in Malaysia.
Her educational journey has been as diverse as it is impressive. She began her early studies at Nottingham Islamia School in the United Kingdom before moving to Malaysia, where she completed her primary education at Ibn Khaldun Integrated Primary School, Shah Alam, in 2013. She later attended Maahad Tahfiz Science School, Kelantan, where she obtained her SPM Secondary School Certificate in 2018.
In 2019, she proceeded to the MARA University of Technology (UTM), Jengka, Pahang, where she bagged a diploma in Science in 2022. From there, she advanced to Universiti Malaysia Sabah for her bachelor’s degree and simultaneously joined the Royal Malaysian Navy Reserve, culminating in her commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant in 2025.
Her achievement not only reflects personal determination but also highlights the global impact of Nigerians excelling in education and leadership.
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), responsible for the country’s maritime defence, has described her performance as exemplary, further underlining the mark Nigerians continue to make on the international stage.
