Mohamed Albachir Seydou Niandou, an international student at North Carolina A&T State University, was flying back from Brazil this week just in time for graduation. Saturday, Dec. 15, he will become the first to graduate from N.C. A&T's Energy and Environmental Doctoral Program and the first in his family to receive a doctorate degree.

Niandou's trip to Brazil was one of his first assignments after landing a job with Delta Environmental Consultants, Inc., based in Atlanta, Ga. - a company that delivers services internationally to enhance environmental program initiatives.

These last few weeks has been a world wind for the 32-year-old, who is very grateful for the opportunity to have experienced an education at A&T and to all those who helped him along the way.

"I am very, very thankful to everyone" he said, referring to the countless faculty and staff at North Carolina A&T.

As a native of Niger-Republic, French is Dr. Niandou’s native tongue. He first arrived in America to attend a language course so he could learn the English language. He credits his father for inspiring him to go into this field at a very young age.

“My father new very early on that this field would be important now. He could see it,” he recalled, adding that his father earnestly wanted him to earn his doctorate.

“He wanted me to make a difference and he knew that furthering my education would allow me to do that. I wanted to fulfill his dream.” Dr. Niandou’s father did not live to see his son realize his dream, “but I feel like I am giving this to him even after his death.” "Since I a younger age, I have a strong passion for protecting the beauty of our natural resources,” he said.

Niandou, received his undergraduate degree in environmental and water sciences from Hassan I University in Settat, Morocco and would later complete A&T's master’s degree program in civil and environmental engineering. A&T's addition of the new interdisciplinary energy and environmental sciences doctoral program would become a perfect fit for this avid learner.

His advisor, Dr. Mohamed S. Ahmedna, spoke of Niandou with high regard.

“He is a dedicated and focused individual. He deserves the success. Because he is hard working he will succeed in his profession,” said Dr. Ahmedna. Niandou worked under Dr. Ahmedna’s supervision as graduate research assistant toward completing his doctoral degree. His dissertation work dealt with the development of low cost water purification system using agricultural by-products. Niandou used pecan shells in the process of purifying drinking water. The project tackled both environmental issues, such as solid waste disposal and water treatment issues as well as aided in economic development.

“In the future, my research will have tremendous environmental impact by addressing the issues of water quality and resolve the disposal problem of agricultural wastes while (also) generating income to nutshell produces in the local community,” said Dr. Niandou. Niandou credits others such as Drs. Keith Schimmel, Shamsudin Illias, Shoou-Yuh Chang for their contribution to his education and his overall success at A&T.

“Everyone has been so helpful and I am very happy for that,” he said.

During his stay at A&T, Niandou's research efforts have earned him several awards and recognition. He recently received the prestigious North Carolina Beautiful Association Fellowship for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship; the USDA/CSREES 2007 Awards of Excellence in Biotechnology Innovative Research and the International Students and Scholars Organization 2007 Award for Outstanding Achievement among others. He has worked as research assistant on several projects involving pesticide traces in water including the Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. Analytical Resource Laboratory and the City of Greensboro Water Quality Services.

Niandou is married Mia, a young woman from his hometown and they have a two-year-old son named Saeed. He hopes very soon he will be able to return home to see his family who he has not seen since he left Niger in 2001.