Darling,
Welcome to my now scholarly corner of the internet. Since this is the debut post for my Research Memoirs, let me start with something currently giving me so much JOY…
So on Friday, I got my Library Card!!!
Let’s rewind a bit to how it all started, and why this moment means so much to me.
As you know, Literature Review is no joke. It’s gangsta! It demands that we read what feels like one million scholarly articles. The real challenge? Most of these journals are behind paywalls, and access can be ridiculously expensive. Frustrating is an understatement!
Thankfully, I remembered something from a PG seminar we had at the end of January. A PhD student casually mentioned that many of us don’t know we already have free access to platforms like ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, JSTOR, EBSCO, Springer Nature, and more (Yes, allow me to show off a bit!).
I confirmed with my supervisor and he echoed the same. So, last Thursday, I headed to the UNILAG Library with my friend Precious. Registration was easy, just our school fees receipt and passport photos.
And oh my goodness, the UNILAG Library is phenomenal. Nothing like the Kenneth Dike Library from my undergrad days, gosh!
The staff were polite and helpful. There were collaborative research hubs, a fully equipped Learning Commons for PG students, and a buzzing e-Library. They even had a chic little coffee shop with a sit-out area (although, sadly, it was all junk food, so that’s a NO from me).
There were also beautiful content-creating spots with cool wall designs. I didn’t take many photos that day, but since I’ll practically be living here, just wait… plenty content is coming!
The very next day, I returned to read, and voila! My card was ready.
I went to the underground section, called the Gandhi Library, reserved strictly for PG students and researchers. I was there from 10 AM to 5 PM, LOL! I juggled school work and professional commitments and still didn’t finish everything.
I’ll share more about those later. For now, let me give you 10 quick updates from my journey so far. Here are the first five. I’ll share the rest in the next post.
1. I left school 13 years ago (2012).
I had no desire to return for PG studies until God clearly told me to go for a Doctorate, not a Master’s. That was in November 2023. I joined the MSc class of 2024/2025 but fully started my classes in January 2025.
2. I say #JourneyToPhD (not MSc) intentionally.
While I’ll complete my MSc by September this year, I know the journey doesn’t end there. PhD is the goal. Saying #JourneyToPhD helps me stay locked in and focused. Masters is just what is standing between me and PhD!
3. I initially applied for Psychology.
Despite my First-Class in Sociology, Psychology rejected me; apparently, they don’t accept Sociology grads for PG studies. That delayed me from starting in November 2024. But in a series of divine interventions, God opened the door not just back into Sociology, but into Medical Sociology, the perfect path. That testimony needs its own blog post!
4. I’m a FULL-TIME student.
First semester classes were mostly virtual, but this second semester, they are all physical, and if you know me, you know I absolutely LOVE it!
5. I have a study group called ‘JESUS IS LORD’.
Yes, that’s our name! I’m 10–15 years older than everyone there, and it just feels right. Why that name? Haha, long story, but just know we need Jesus to be Lord over this entire academic journey, especially the theory courses!
Wanna hear more? Catch the next post for the remaining five updates.
Thank you for riding with me. Don’t forget to drop a comment so I know I’m not alone on this ride!
God bless you, and Happy New Month!
Eziaha
#JourneyToPhD