The couple were not born the same day. Neither did they attend the same primary and secondary schools. They are also not from the same state. The husband is from, Ilaje, Ondo State while the wife is from Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Fate and love for knowledge, however, brought them together at the University of Lagos. And because they are both made for scholarship, the two were among the students and distinguished Nigerians that were celebrated at the UNILAG’s Golden Jubilee Convocation last week.
The couple made history by becoming the first couple to bag a doctorate degree same day at UNILAG. The husband, Dr. Olusegun Samuel and his wife, Temitope, were rewarded with a PhD in marine ecology and botany respectively in front of an ecstatic crowd at the Multipurpose Hall of the institution, the venue of the ceremony.
They were not the only students so honoured. Twenty-two-year-old Ibok Favour Asuquo, emerged the overall best graduating student after obtaining a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.89 to bag a first class degree in accountancy. Also, Miss Babtony Flora, who got a CGPA of 4.88 out of a possible 5.0 and bagged a first class degree in psychology was also rewarded. The two also received a standing ovation from the audience – with prizes including cash, certificates and plaques from the university.
But the audience went wild with joy as soon as the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, announced that a couple was among the 47 students that were being conferred with doctoral degrees in various disciplines at the event.
The crowd yelled, heads were turned and the couple instantly became the cynosure of all eyes at the ceremony. The audience, including the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqquayyat Rufa’I, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan; the Pro-Chancellor, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, principal officers of UNILAG, including the Registrar, Mr. Olu Sodimu; parents, students and newsmen all wanted to catch a glimpse of the brainy couple.
In a chat with our correspondents after the award, the couple said they were able to cope in the course of the programmes because it was what they agreed to do even before their marriage.
The husband, who joined UNILAG as a lecturer in the Faculty of Science in 2007, said, “It is what we both agreed to do. I don’t feel threatened that my wife has attained the same academic feat with me. It is for the benefit of the family.”
Samuel did his PhD work on marine ecology, with a focus on ecotoxicology- the study of how poison and chemicals affect the ecosystem. His wife focused on dermatophyte, a group of fungi that causes skin diseases.
They said it took them a lot of hard work, sleepless nights, and huge financial resources to complete the programme.
“It took a lot of sacrifice. But since we were both involved, we were able to manage our time. Whenever I was not at home, my wife would be there. Again, at times, we worked so late on the campus that we did not get home until 11.00pm,” Samuel said.
Speaking on how they started their love journey, the wife said it was an Internet connectivity problem that brought them together at UNILAG.
“I was browsing in one of the offices in the department and he (her husband) walked in and complained that the Internet service on his system was behaving funny. I offered to help. That was how he took interest in me. The rest, they say, is history,” she said.
They got married on May 1, 2010 and the marriage is blessed with a baby boy.
Source: Punch
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