Bringing students from 143 countries together on the same campus, Near East University offers its students the opportunity to receive a university education in a multicultural environment. Near East University Faculty of Nursing, which gave 200 graduates in the fall semester of 2022-2023, is only one of the faculties that host this multicultural education environment. One of the best examples of this is that students from Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Turkey, who came to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for nursing education, graduated with a degree.

Nigerian Moyosore Omotola Afolayan graduated from the Near East University Faculty of Nursing as the top graduate, while Melisa Elveren from Turkey succeeded in graduating as the second top graduate of the faculty. Hazel Chitongo from Zimbabwe became the third top graduate. At the graduation ceremony, they took the stage together and received their diplomas from Near East University Vice Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Tüzünkan and Dean of Near East University Faculty of Nursing Prof. Dr. Ümran Dal. Successful young people, who took their diplomas and took their first steps into their professional lives as well, talked about the traces left in their lives by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Near East University.

Moyosore Omotola Afolayan: “I had very nice experiences in a very nice culture and safe environment in Northern Cyprus.”
Moyosore Omotola Afolayan, who came to the TRNC for nursing education from Nigeria and graduated from the Near East University Faculty of Nursing as the valedictorian, explained the motivation behind her success as “the desire to be beneficial to humanity”.

Saying that Northern Cyprus has a simple and respectful society, Moyosore Omotola Afolayan described the Near East University as the institution where his dreams come true. “At the Near East University Faculty of Nursing, we learned our profession from very successful academics who devoted themselves to the profession. I have established great friendships and relationships with my friends and teachers. I had very nice experiences on this island with a very nice culture and a safe environment.”

Explaining that he will immediately start to practice his profession in order to contribute to humanity, Afolayan said that he will continue his academic studies by conducting a master’s and doctorate in the future.

Melisa Elveren: “I feel very lucky to be studying at Near East University in terms of education quality and university opportunities.”
Melisa Elveren, who completed the Near East University Faculty of Nursing as the salutatorian, said, “I feel very lucky to be studying at the Near East University in terms of education quality and university opportunities.” Stating that she aims for an academic career in her future life, Elveren said, “Like all my esteemed teachers, I want to convey all the experiences I will gain in my professional life as an academic, aiming to increase the prestige of the nursing profession.”

Hazel Chitongo: “Studying at Near East University has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
Hazel Chitongo, who graduated from the Faculty of Nursing as to third top graduate student, is one of the students who came to the TRNC from Zimbabwe, located in the south of Africa. Expressing her satisfaction with the choice she made for a university education that will shape her life, Chitongo said, “Studying at the Near East University has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am happy to graduate from a university that is very hospitable, open to innovation, values its students and has ample opportunities.”

Describing her motivation for success as “the love and support she received from her family,” Hazel Chitongo said, “Being successful was a way of thanking my family for everything they did for me.”