My PhD Degree is One Year Old: The Journey So Far

By

Azeez ADEOYE (Wizard Librarian)

Years of dedication, hard work, sleepless nights, and persistent frustration, all focused on a single goal, were ultimately crowned with the award of a doctorate degree, and the legitimate right to place “Dr” before your name and “PhD” after it. Truly, it was an experience worthy of every sacrifice.

One year down the line, I have tasted both success and failure. I have received volumes of rejection letters: from journal publishers, conference organisers, postdoctoral fellowships, and job opportunities. Earning a PhD does not make you perfect or flawless; it simply means you are teachable, and that you can stay focused on a task until you achieve results.

A doctorate degree is a means to an end. Some call it a magical degree, and often liken it to a passport. But just like an international passport, simply possessing it does not guarantee travel. For example, over 75% of Nigerians who hold a Nigerian passport use it merely as a form of identification, they may never travel outside the country. In the same vein, having a PhD does not automatically open all doors. The utility of the degree depends on how intentionally you use it.

That said, my PhD has indeed opened doors. In just one year, I have won two research grants, received invitations to both local and international conferences, published in high-impact journals, served on editorial boards of reputable journals, participated in top management teams, contributed to national development, and led teams of experts. All within 12 calendar months of acquiring the so-called “magical degree.”

Many people pursue a PhD to become certified researchers and academics. Unfortunately, about 80% of post-PhD responsibilities are administrative: attending endless meetings, solving departmental, faculty, and university-wide challenges, tasks that most Nigerian doctoral curricula do not adequately prepare candidates for.

The next enviable step after earning a PhD is becoming a Senior Lecturer. This position marks your emergence as an independent researcher. At this stage, you fully take ownership of your research. You begin to champion causes and pioneer studies. You don’t need to be a lone ranger, but you must become the driver of a research team, with original ideas. Your ability to master this phase sets the tone for the journey toward the highest academic rank: Professorship.

What I want you to take away from this piece is that a doctoral degree is not the end; it is merely a means to an end. It is a magical passport, yes, but you must be intentional in how you use it if you truly want it to fulfil its ultimate purpose.

Earning the degree is not enough. What matters is doing the needful: conducting productive, impactful research, developing administrative acumen, investing in social capital, embracing collaboration and networking and mastering the art of grantsmanship. These are the hallmarks of a successful PhD holder.

It would be incomplete not to mention the financial pressure and challenges that come with the degree, societal expectations, and the personal financial drain, but I will deliberately leave this article “incomplete” to leave room for further discussion.

Thank you.

Dr Azeez Adebamgbola ADEOYE, PhD

Still towards aiming high.