Veteran journalist and media executive, Friday Olokor, has been awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree by the University of Jos (UNIJOS) after seven years of intensive academic research.
Olokor, who holds a B.A from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and an M.A from the University of Lagos, described the achievement as the fulfilment of a long-held dream, saying he “earned the degree from a reputable university through perseverance and sacrifice.”
“This has always been my wish, and I am happy that, like my previous degrees, I earned it through hard work,” he said. “The story of this academic pilgrimage will be told another day. In Jos, I went, saw and conquered.”
He disclosed that the journey was fraught with personal and professional challenges, including a near-death experience following a fatal auto crash on May 1, 2019, while travelling from Jos to Abuja after an academic presentation.
“Till today, I do not know how I escaped death,” Olokor recalled. “People falsely accused me of going to Jos for frivolous reasons, but I knew my mission. Today, that so-called ‘side chick’ is my Ph.D.”
His doctoral thesis, titled “A Postcolonial Study of Power in the Poetry of Tanure Ojaide and Odia Ofeimun,” was supervised by Professor Nesther Nachafiyu Alu, with Professor Jeff Godwin Doki as co-supervisor.
At the convocation ceremony held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, the university authorities formally awarded Olokor the Ph.D, having found him “worthy in character and learning.”
Reflecting on his background, Olokor described himself as “the son of an Abavo farmer in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State,” adding that the achievement was a tribute to resilience and faith.
“This is the day the Lord has made,” he said. “I thank my late parents, Francis Okoh Olokor and Elizabeth Olokor, my wife, children, family members, and lecturers from Ife, UNILAG and UNIJOS, especially the ASUU leadership in UNIJOS, for their encouragement.”
Olokor also recounted how his academic pursuit ran alongside a demanding journalism career, beginning at The PUNCH, where he was transferred from Abuja to Jos as Plateau State Correspondent.
“Jos was seen by many journalists as an ‘infertile Siberia’ for reporting,” he said. “But I faced my job squarely. I was even detained by the military for reporting what shouldn’t be reported.”
He noted that while his academic journey began at The PUNCH, it concluded at Arise News, where he currently works.
“My academic journey started in The PUNCH but ended in Arise News,” Olokor said. “And so, I have arisen.”
He expressed gratitude to Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of THISDAY and Arise News Global Group, for his support.
“Running a Ph.D programme is capital intensive,” he said. “I thank Prince Nduka Obaigbena for inviting me because he knew I had value to add. The Duke is one among millions.”