FORMER FIRST LADY PATIENCE JONATHAN RECOUNTS PHD JOURNEY, SHARES TESTIMONY AT NSPPD
Former First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan, has opened up about her deeply personal academic journey, revealing how divine direction and determination helped her overcome significant hurdles in the pursuit of a doctorate degree.
Speaking during a testimony session at the Streams of Joy International Church, Abuja, led by renowned pastor, Jerry Eze, Dame Jonathan shared her struggles, fears, and eventual triumphs while working toward her PhD.
“I came here to thank God for all His doings, all the wonderful work in my life and in my family,” she told a visibly moved congregation on Sunday.
The former First Lady, who has often been associated more with political advocacy than academia, reflected on how she nearly abandoned her PhD ambitions after completing her tenure in Aso Rock.
“When I picked up the PhD form, I asked myself, ‘What am I going to do with a PhD now?’” she said candidly. “I had finished my career, I had finished as First Lady. I thought I wouldn’t make it.”
But what seemed like an unlikely academic pursuit became a spiritual assignment. She said she received divine encouragement to move forward: “God told me, ‘Go there and try. If these children can make it, why can’t you?’ I said, ‘But I am mama ooo.’”
Dame Jonathan described the journey as anything but easy. What was supposed to be a three-year program felt like “40 years,” she said, recounting how she frequently shuttled between Abuja and Port Harcourt—sometimes staying for weeks at a stretch—just to attend classes.
“I was not ashamed,” she said, to applause. “The teacher would be teaching and I’d raise my hand to ask questions. The younger students could understand once, but I had to ask three times before it sank in.”
Her story resonated with many in attendance, especially as she emphasized the importance of lifelong learning.
“If Patience can make it, you too can make it,” she said passionately. “There is no age limit in education. Whether you are 10 or 100, just be determined.”
The former First Lady also shared her journey of faith, revealing how she transitioned from being a committed Anglican to worshipping at Streams of Joy after persistent persuasion from her children.
Her heartfelt testimony not only drew applause but also inspired many with its message of resilience, humility, and the power of divine guidance in overcoming life’s challenges.
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