{"id":22043,"date":"2025-05-21T14:26:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T18:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/?p=22043"},"modified":"2025-05-21T14:47:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T18:47:29","slug":"class-of-25-udm-had-everything-for-engineering-grad-from-nigeria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/2025\/05\/21\/class-of-25-udm-had-everything-for-engineering-grad-from-nigeria\/","title":{"rendered":"Class of \u201925: UDM had everything for Engineering grad from Nigeria"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Agholor<\/p>\n

Each year, University of Detroit Mercy\u2019s Marketing & Communications department profiles members of the graduating classes<\/a>. Students chosen were nominated by staff and faculty for their contributions to the life of the University.<\/em><\/p>\n

When <\/span>Oriekaose<\/span> Agholor \u201925 <\/span>was <\/span>searching for his college destination in the United States, he wanted an Engineering education that encompassed <\/span>everything<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"AgholorMechatronics <\/span>\u2014 a <\/span>multidis<\/span>ciplinary field <\/span>that combines<\/span> mechanics, <\/span>electronics<\/span> and computing \u2014<\/span> was at the top of his list<\/span>;<\/span> r<\/span>obotics was another targeted pathway<\/span>. He also wanted an <\/span>Engineering program<\/span> that valued co-op internships<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

University<\/span> of Detroit Mercy had it all.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>I\u2019m interested in the whole thing with Engineering<\/span>,\u201d said Agholor, a native of Delta State, Nigeria<\/span>.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>How can I have the necessary skills to make a product or technology to solve problems or help people<\/span>?<\/span> The Mechatronics program expands my knowledge and allows me to tap into these different Engineering fields.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, Detroit Mercy was one of just two schools in the country that allows <\/span>students <\/span>to combine Mechatronics and Robotics into a degree<\/span> when Agholor was looking at colleges<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome schools have one or the other<\/span>,\u201d Agholor said.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>Our school puts both of them together.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Agholor <\/span>had two internship co-ops <\/span>while<\/span> at the University, working locally as a <\/span>c<\/span>ontrols<\/span> e<\/span>ngineering <\/span>i<\/span>ntern with Yanfeng in Highland Park<\/span>, <\/span>and<\/span> with the electric vehicle company, Rivian, in summer 2024 in California.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy experience here at Detroit Mercy was crucial in my success in both of those roles,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel absolutely prepared for the workforce. <\/span>I\u2019m<\/span> really grateful<\/span> for that.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Agholor <\/span>stepped off the plane from Nigeria before the start of the <\/span>UDM\u2019s <\/span>winter<\/span> 2022<\/span> semester<\/span>, <\/span>having never stepped foot in the United States.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For Agholor, it <\/span>was completely new surroundings<\/span> \u2014 <\/span>country<\/span>,<\/span> city<\/span>,<\/span> school<\/span> and <\/span>the community of people at the University.<\/span> And he began school a semester <\/span>after<\/span> most of his Class of 2025 classmates<\/span> started.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

First-year residence <\/span>Shiple<\/span> Hall quickly made him feel at home.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was amazing,\u201d Agholor said. \u201cIt really helped smooth my journey from Nigeria to the United States. Most of the freshmen had started in the fall, so people already knew each other. People would just come up to you and start a conversation. Everyone was really nice and sweet, and after you see people over and over, you just kind of connect.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe social community on campus definitely was one of the best things here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"FiveAgholor dove <\/span>headfirst<\/span> into the social aspect of the University, becoming involved in clubs and societies, and <\/span>growing into<\/span> a campus leader<\/span>. <\/span>He became<\/span> an orientation leader for incoming Titans and also <\/span>worked<\/span> at the Student Success Center on the McNichols Campus.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He even started two clubs at UDM: the music club and badminton club. The music club was a fixture on campus and combined students across all majors; they even played at UDM President Donald Taylor\u2019s inauguration dinner.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The International Night that showcases the diverse population at Detroit Mercy was a favorite event of Agholor\u2019s during his tenure as a student.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI really liked that Detroit Mercy gave you the opportunity to kick-start your own endeavors,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

In his Engineering studies, <\/span>Agholor<\/span> also <\/span>gave his all<\/span>, from projects with other students to immersing himself in his <\/span>degree programs.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Among his opportunities, Agholor, <\/span>along with other students,<\/span> share<\/span>d<\/span> his designs with national leaders, such as U.S. Sen<\/span>.<\/span> Gary Peters <\/span>\u201884 <\/span>and former National Cyber Director Harry Coker<\/span> Jr.<\/span>, when the pair visited the McNichols Campus and UDM\u2019s Vehicle Cyber Engineering program in April 2024.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

All of<\/span> the projects, classes, internships<\/span> and<\/span> opportunities <\/span>has<\/span> given <\/span>him a <\/span>complete <\/span>\u00a0education<\/span> and <\/span>was<\/span> everything Agholor envisioned and more.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>It\u2019s been awesome,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve taken different mechanical classes, different electrical classes and I\u2019ve taken a Mechatronics modeling and simulation class, which is really cool because you need the knowledge of mechanical and electrical classes to really understand what\u2019s going on in this class and we\u2019re learning really cool techniques on how to bridge those worlds together.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"TwoHaving attended a Jesuit secondary school in Nigeria, Agholor was versed in the traditions of St. Ignatius. Those Jesuit and Mercy values <\/span>impacted<\/span> him further as he grew at the University.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat was prevalent when I was a campus leader, that we are here to serve, we aren\u2019t doing this for ourselves or the money,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are here to model the life of our founders.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His faith<\/span> drives him<\/span> every day.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy drive to work hard and the belief in myself, my capabilities<\/span> and other people, it all comes from Jesus,\u201d Agholor said. \u201cIt is the <\/span>H<\/span>oly <\/span>S<\/span>pirit that gives me constant <\/span>guidance<\/span> and the values guide me, lead my path. It keeps me on the right track.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Agholor earned a Robotics and Mechatronic Systems Engineering Honors degree in just three-and-a-half years from the <\/span>University and<\/span> now hopes to be able to create technolog<\/span>ies<\/span> that will help others.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His first gig post-graduation takes him to a start-up space for <\/span>SynaFox <\/span>AI, <\/span>located<\/span> inside of the remodeled and updated Michigan Central Station in downtown Detroit. A networking event hosted by Detroit <\/span>M<\/span>ayor Mike Duggan put him in position for the post-graduate internship.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that in the near future I\u2019m within the start-up space<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/span> because I want to develop relevant but powerful technology that can help positively transform the lives of other people<\/span> in my immediate community in the United States<\/span> and hopefully even<\/span> the world<\/span>,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of technology is being created today solely for profit, without having a true impact on the lives of people. I\u2019d like to be in the start-up space to work with like-minded people, hopefully people who have the same drive as me to come up with user-centric products.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Agholor can\u2019t say enough about his UDM experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite part was getting to work on cool, interdisciplinary projects and working with the students,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve gotten to work with so many different teams, so many faculty, organizations and clubs, so many different students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to interact with people no matter their race, their color, their religion, has been really beautiful. Being able to learn from each and every one of these groups of people and communities has been really awesome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0By\u00a0Adam Bouton<\/a>. Follow Detroit Mercy on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>. Have a story idea? Let us know by\u00a0submitting your idea<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n