Mission accomplished (Opinion)

Mission Accomplished…

Friday Olokor B.A (Ife), M.A (Lagos) Ph.D (Jos)

This has been my wish and I’m happy that, like other degrees, I EARNED it from a REPUTABLE University. The story of this academic pilgrimage will be told another day. In Jos, I went, saw and conquered. Brethren, hear this: On Wednesday May 1 2019, I had a fatal auto crash while traveling from Jos to Abuja after my presentation. Till now, I don’t know how I escaped death.

‘What took him to Jos after Punch Newspapers management have returned him to Abuja?’ People accused me falsely that I went to see my ‘side chick’. I wasn’t surprised, I wasn’t disappointed because I knew my mission. Today, the ‘side chick’ is my Ph.D

Topic: A Postcolonial Study of Power in The Poetry of Tanure Ojaide and Odia Ofeimun

Supervisor: Prof Nesther Nachafiyu Alu

Co-supervisor: Prof. Jeff Godwin Doki

This is the day the Lord had made! After seven years of serious academic research, the authorities of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) today Saturday December 13 2025, awarded the son of Abavo farmer in Ika South LGA of Delta State, Nigeria, Friday Olokor a Ph.D, having found him worthy in Character and Learning. I thank my late parents, Francis Okoh Olokor and Elizabeth Olokor; my wife, children, family members, lecturers in Ife, UNILAG and Jos, in particular ASUU leadership in UNIJOS for their encouragement.

I was transferred from Abuja to Jos, to be Plateau State Correspondent of The PUNCH, a place seen by many journalists as ‘infertile Siberia’ for reporting. But I faced my job squarely and was detained by the military for reporting what shouldn’t be reported. My academic journey started in The PUNCH but ended in Arise News. And so, I have arisen.

Thank you my brother, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of THISDAY and Arise News Global Group. You invited me because you knew I had a value to add. Running a Ph.D programme is capital intensive. The Duke is one among millions…