By Charles Igbo
Vivacious Nigeria’s former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is now a proud holder of Doctor of Philosophy.
Dame Jonathan, wife of former Nigeria’s President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, earned, not honorary, but earned her PhD in Psychology, Guidance and Counseling from Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State. It was conferred on her at the Institution’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
Speaking at the Convocation ceremony, Dr (Mrs) Jonathan thanked her husband, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and acknowledged the transformative power of Education and emphasised that age is no barrier to one’s academic pursuit.
She said: “I feel that no age is too late to achieve your academic dreams whether you are young or old. If I can do it, you can also do it.
“I believe that even in retirement, you are not too old to go back to school because education provides the opportunity for one to always refresh his or her brain and learn new things. Let me use this opportunity to encourage Nigerian women and the youths to aspire to become the best of themselves through qualitative education.
Mrs Jonathan dedicated her feat to Nigerian women just as she credited it to divine grace and the support of her family.
Her words: “First of all, I am very grateful to the Almighty God who has made today a reality. He saw me through this programme, so I am very happy today.
“I, also, thank my family sincerely, especially, my lovely husband, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for all his support and very useful suggestions. I am also very grateful to my beautiful and lovely children for showing great understanding and love throughout the period I was engaged in this programme. I appreciate all my friends for their encouragement. I feel very happy today.”
Mrs Jonathan, popular as “Mama Peace”, was Nigeria’s First Lady from 2008 to 2015. Before then, she was Nigeria’s Second Lady when her husband was the Vice President. She was, also, the First Lady of Bayelsa State and before then, the wife of the Deputy Governor of the State when her husband was the Deputy Governor.
Since her husband left office in 2015, Mrs Jonathan has engaged herself in several philanthropic activities, keeping her home, pursuing her quest for peace in Nigeria and the African Continent, and, as has been made public now, her quest to improve her education. This has now been crowned with a PhD.
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