“There Is No Age Limit in Education” — Patience Jonathan Shares Emotional Journey to Earning a PhD
Mrs. Patience Jonathan, wife of Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan, has revealed how academic pressure and emotional challenges nearly caused her to abandon her pursuit of a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
Speaking during a testimony session at Streams of Joy International Church, led by Pastor Jerry Eze, she shared how the road to earning a PhD in Psychology, Guidance, and Counselling from Ignatius Ajuru University of Education was filled with self-doubt and academic hurdles.
“Sometimes, my lecturer would get me angry and say, ‘Go and repeat this page.’ Shey this man don’t know that I’m old,” she said, drawing laughter and applause from the congregation.
Despite her prominent background, Jonathan confessed she questioned the need for a PhD after serving as First Lady. But faith and divine reassurance kept her going: “If your children can make it, why can’t you?”
She spoke of the humility of sitting on classroom benches with her children and asking questions repeatedly just to understand. What was supposed to be a three-year program, she said, “felt like 40 years.”
Encouraging others, especially women and youths, she said: “There is no age limit in education. If you are a hundred years old, you can make it.”
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