Former first lady Patience Jonathan says God told her to pursue a doctorate degree despite her age.
The former first lady was among the graduating students at the 43rd convocation ceremony of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, which took place on May 31.
Giving her testimony at the Streams of Joy International Church, she narrated the journey to completing her academic programme.
Patience said she started by acquiring a National Certificate of Education (NCE) before bagging a bachelor of science (BSc) and then a master’s degree.
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The former first lady said she had to ask questions repeatedly to understand her coursework while pursuing the PhD at the university.
“When I went to pick up my PhD form, I thought that 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?” she said.
“But God told me to go there. He said, ‘If your children can make it, why can’t you? Just go there and try’. I went to pick up the form. Three years to me was like 40 years.
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“I would go to class and sit on the bench with my children. Those were my children; I was the mama among them, and I wasn’t ashamed.
“The teacher will be teaching; I will raise my hands and ask questions because the younger ones will understand immediately, but, as a mama, I have to ask questions three times before I understand one thing. Before I knew it, God saw me through.”
The former first lady added that she sometimes got angry at a lecturer who would tell her to repeat assignments.
“This man doesn’t know that I’m old. I will soon 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,” she said.
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