Three Children, Two Degrees: UNILAG Couple Defy Odds to Graduate Together

Against the backdrop of academic disruptions, family responsibilities, and the everyday pressures of married life, a Nigerian couple has emerged as a powerful symbol of resilience and determination after graduating together from the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Mr. Olawale Olulaja and his wife, Mrs. Blessing Chigozie, were among the graduates at the university’s recently concluded convocation ceremony, having successfully completed their respective programmes through the institution’s Distance Learning Institute (DLI). While Olulaja earned a degree in Business Administration, his wife graduated from the Department of Accountancy during the 2024/2025 academic session.

Their joint graduation was not the result of a carefully planned academic journey but rather a convergence shaped by perseverance, sacrifice, and mutual support after years of interruptions and personal challenges.

Speaking with The PUNCH, Olulaja explained that he enrolled in the Business Administration programme before his wife but was unable to complete his studies as scheduled due to outstanding courses. The delay, he said, meant that his academic journey remained unfinished even as life progressed.

“I started the programme before my wife, but I had some references that I needed to clear. That was why I couldn’t finish on time,” he said. “When it was time for her to graduate, I decided to return and complete my own programme, which is how we eventually graduated together.”

For the couple, the decision to pursue higher education while raising a family required a high level of understanding and cooperation. Olulaja, a father of three, noted that mutual respect played a major role in helping them manage the pressures of academics alongside marriage and parenthood.

“We understand each other,” he said. “When it is time for her to study, I understand that some things at home may not be done immediately. I don’t get annoyed because I know she is studying. Sometimes food that should be ready by 6 pm comes by 8 pm, but I understand. Managing the children was also by God’s grace.”

Blessing, who began her Accounting programme in 2018, revealed that she was initially unaware that her husband had an unfinished academic record when they got married. She said she later discovered that he had two outstanding courses and encouraged him to return to school and complete the programme.

“He started before me, but he didn’t finish. I didn’t even know until after we got married,” she said. “Along the line, I encouraged him to go back and complete his programme, and that was what we both did.”

Their academic journey stretched across seven years, a period marked by the birth of their three children, the COVID-19 pandemic, and prolonged industrial actions that affected Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. Blessing explained that she was originally meant to complete her studies in 2023, but unforeseen disruptions extended the programme by two additional years.

“We had three children in seven years,” she said. “There was COVID, and there was a long strike. All of that delayed the programme.”

One of the most challenging moments, according to Blessing, was attending classes and examinations shortly after giving birth. She recalled attending lectures when her youngest child was barely six months old, despite still recovering from a caesarean section.

“At some point, I wanted to defer,” she said. “The stitches were still fresh, but my husband encouraged me to continue. He stayed at home with the other two children while I came to school.”

In one instance, she attended a week-long residential programme with her baby due to the absence of childcare support. “I had to carry my baby with me for the residential session. During exams, someone helped me watch the baby while I wrote my papers,” she added.

Determined not to extend the programme further, Blessing said she endured the physical and emotional strain to complete her studies, relying on extra tutorials to cope with the academic workload.

“For seven years, my weekends were not mine. Saturdays and Sundays were for tutorials,” she said.

Reflecting on their journey, Blessing encouraged Nigerians—especially women—not to wait for perfect conditions before pursuing education.

“If you wait for a convenient time, it may never come,” she said. “Challenges will always come, but you just have to face them.”

The couple described their graduation as a testament to sacrifice, faith, and partnership, expressing hope that their story would inspire others to pursue education regardless of life’s obstacles.