Mrs Patience Jonathan, wife of Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan, has revealed that she nearly abandoned her pursuit of a Doctor of Philosophy due to the constant pressure and challenges she faced from her lecturers.
She recently earned a PhD in Psychology, Guidance and Counselling from Ignatius Ajuru University of Education during the institution’s 43rd Postgraduate Convocation Ceremony.
Speaking during a testimony time on Sunday at Streams of Joy International Church, led by Pastor Jerry Eze, the former First Lady recounted her difficult academic journey, marked by moments of frustration and self-doubt.
Jonathan admitted that the demands of academic life, particularly the repeated assignments and high expectations from lecturers, nearly pushed her to the brink.
Reflecting on her experience, she said in her characteristic voice, as the congregation cheered and laughed, “At times, my lecturer would get me angry and say, ‘Go and repeat this page.’
“Shey this man don’t know that I’m old.
“Very soon, I will leave this place and rest because what will I do with it? It’s just to keep the brain moving.
“But to God be the glory. That thing that seemed impossible, God made it possible, and I graduated.”
Despite her prominent background and previous public service, Jonathan said it was not a path she envisioned for herself after serving in high political office.
“When I went to pick up my PhD form, I thought I would not make it.
“I said, I have finished my career. I have served as First Lady of Nigeria. What am I going to do with a PhD?
“But God told me to go there. He said, ‘If your children can make it, why can’t you?’”
Jonathan also spoke about how she was humbled by the effort it took to sit in classrooms with much younger students.
“I would go to class and sit on the bench with my children.
“I was the ‘Mama’ among them, and I wasn’t ashamed.
“The teacher would be teaching, I would raise my hand and ask questions because the younger ones would understand immediately, but, as a ‘Mama’, I had to ask questions three times before I understood one thing,” she said.
Jonathan described the three-year programme as feeling like “40 years,” and attributed her perseverance to divine support.
The former First Lady urged that her testimony serve as a powerful encouragement to others, especially women and youths, so they do not see age or circumstance as a barrier to education.
“There is no age limit in education. If you are a hundred years old, you can make it.
“If you are ten years old, you can make it. Just be determined, and you will get there,” Jonathan said.
