A young Nigerian woman, Uzzibi Methuselah, has achieved a remarkable academic milestone by earning her PhD at the age of 26 from Babcock University. Her journey, which began with a dream at age 15, culminated in the successful defense of her thesis titled “Boko Haram Deradicalization and Human Security in Northeast Nigeria.”
From Secondary School to Doctorate
Uzzibi shared her inspiring story on LinkedIn, recounting how she set a goal to obtain a PhD after finishing her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2015. She wrote: “At 15, I Dreamed It. At 26, I Did It. Today, I completed the earliest long-term goal I can remember setting for myself. I defended my PhD thesis and was declared a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science with a specialization in Defense and Strategic Studies.”
Her post continued: “I remember sitting in an exam hall at 15, after finishing my last WASSCE paper, thinking about where I wanted to be in the next 10 years. One of the clearest things I wanted was a PhD. I have slogged and slaved to achieve this goal and, well, 11 years later, I can finally say I’ve completed my PhD.”
Gratitude and Support
In her message, Uzzibi expressed deep gratitude to her supervisors, Prof. Ayandiji Daniel AINA and Dr. Goodnews Osah, for their unwavering support and critical feedback. She also thanked her father, Prof. Methuselah Jeremiah, who served as a constant advisor and mentor, and her friend Abiola ISIKALU, who was her first peer reviewer and favorite collaborator.
Social Media Reactions
Her achievement sparked a wave of congratulatory messages on social media. Ekene Chimarin commented: “Dr Hallowed Olu clinched it at 24. You were close. But you certainly are among Nigeria's finest. Welldone!!!” Dr Ahmod Idris Azaitowiy noted: “This is awesome. But, wait are you people getting this faster track? You are likely to become a PROFESSOR before age 35. A more surprising journey than the Professor AINA saga, the recent JAMB registrar. Congratulations girl. Wishing you many more success.”
Emmanuel Seun Kupoluyi expressed interest in her research, saying: “I'll really love to read the findings of your thesis. Please you can share DOIs with me when published.” Musah Abudulai added: “Congratulations, your thesis topic is interesting and will be interesting to read any of your papers. Well done.”
A Broader Context
Uzzibi’s story is part of a larger narrative of Nigerian youth achieving academic excellence despite challenges. In related news, the best graduating student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) shared how he was rejected by the University of Ibadan, while another graduate staged a one-man protest over unemployment. Additionally, the Lagos State University (LASU) best graduating student opened up about her admission experience in an interview with Legit.ng, detailing her struggles and future goals.
This article was written by Victoria Nwahiri, an award-winning Reuters-certified journalist with over five years of experience in digital, social media, and print journalism. She has covered lifestyle, entertainment, and human interest stories that have impacted policymakers. She is currently a Human Interest Editor at Legit.ng.
