PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — Nigeria’s former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, has shared a deeply personal account of her academic journey, revealing that she nearly abandoned her pursuit of a Doctor of Philosophy degree due to the rigorous demands and pressure from her lecturers.
Jonathan, who recently earned a PhD in Psychology, Guidance and Counselling from the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, recounted her experience during a testimony session at the Streams of Joy International Church.
Reflecting on her challenges, she said the academic workload, repeated assignments, and the high standards set by her instructors pushed her to the brink of giving up.
“At times, my lecturer would get me angry and say, ‘Go and repeat this page,’” she said.
“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.”
The former First Lady admitted she had initial doubts when she decided to return to school, especially after serving at the highest levels of public life.
“When I went to pick up my PhD form, I thought I would not make it,” she said.
“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, now in her late 60s, said she remained committed to learning, even when it meant asking questions that others grasped more easily.
“I would go to class and sit on the bench with my children. I was the ‘Mama’ among them, and I wasn’t ashamed,” she recalled.
“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.”
Her remarks drew applause and admiration from the congregation, many of whom praised her humility and dedication to lifelong learning.
The testimony has since drawn widespread attention on social media, with many Nigerians describing her journey as both inspiring and a reminder that learning knows no age limits.
