A couple, Mr Olawale Olulaja and his wife, Blessing Chigozie, were among the graduands at the just-concluded convocation of the University of Lagos, completing their programmes through the Distance Learning Institute.

While the husband was a graduate of Business Administration, the wife graduated from the Department of Accountancy for the 2024/2025 academic session.

The duo, in a conversation with The PUNCH, spoke about how they overcame the demands of marriage, parenthood, and years of academic disruptions, and graduated at the same time.

Olawale, a graduate of Business Administration, said he began the programme before his wife but could not complete it as scheduled due to outstanding courses.

“I enrolled before her. I had some references which I came to complete, that is why we are graduating at the same time,” he said.

He explained that he returned to school when his wife was close to completing her own programme.

“When it was time for her to graduate, I had to come and complete my own course of study,” Olawale added.

The father of three said mutual understanding helped the couple cope with the pressures of studying while raising a family.

“We understand ourselves. I understand her when it is time for studying, even if she is not doing certain things at home, I understand that it is due to her studying, and I did not need to get annoyed,” he said.

“There are times when the food should be ready by 6 pm, but I get it at 8 pm. That is the little challenge faced. Managing the children, too, is by God’s grace. With God, all things are possible.”

Blessing, who graduated in Accounting, said she started her programme in 2018 and later discovered that her husband had not completed his earlier enrolment.

“We didn’t start together. He started first, but he didn’t finish his own. He had two references. I didn’t know about it till we got married,” she said.

She noted that she encouraged him to return and complete the programme, leading to their joint graduation.

“I started mine, and it was along the line that I knew, and I urged him to complete the programme. That was what we both did last year. It was not easy with the children,” she said.

Blessing said the seven-year academic journey coincided with the birth of their three children, as well as COVID-19 disruptions and prolonged strikes.

“DLI gave us three kids. We had the three kids in seven years. There was COVID and a long strike. I started in 2018 and was supposed to finish in 2023, but the extra two years were long strike and COVID,” she said.

She described attending classes and examinations shortly after childbirth as one of the toughest experiences.

“The last one was barely six months old when I came to class. The CS stitches were still fresh. At a point I wanted to defer, but my husband encouraged me to come back because he had to stay with the two kids at home,” she said.

According to her, she once attended a residential session with her baby due to a lack of childcare support.

“The two people I called to help me did not show up. So, I spent a one-week residential program with my baby. During the exam week, somebody came. She would stay with the baby, I would go and write an exam and return to carry my baby,” she said.

Determined not to prolong the programme further, Blessing said she endured the pain to complete her studies.

“The programme had extended for too long, and I did not want an extra year to make it eight years. I just had to bear the pain and finish once and for all,” she said.

Reflecting on the experience, she urged Nigerians, especially women, not to wait for a convenient time before pursuing education.

“If you are waiting for a convenient time, it can never come. After one challenge, another challenge will come up. Just face your challenge, and you will survive,” she said.

She added that she relied on extra tutorials to cope with the academic demands of the programme.

“School class is just twice a month, so I enrolled for personal tutorials. For the past seven years, Saturdays and Sundays have not been mine,” she said.

Blessing said she plans to proceed to professional certification.

“I want to do ICAN,” she added.

The couple described their graduation as a product of sacrifice, resilience and mutual support, saying the experience had strengthened their belief that education remains achievable despite life’s challenges. (PUNCH)

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