On Saturday, July 25th 2026, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka held its 55th convocation with many graduands from different levels of academic participating.
However, one of the PhD graduands is Wisdom Anucha, once a banana, plantain chips seller at Aba, Abia state.
Dr. Anucha is now a lecturer with the Abia State University (ABSU).
WITHIN NIGERIA reporter had an exclusive interview with him and he narrated how he rose from hawking plantain chips, banana and eggs at Aba roadside, Abia State to earning a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Language Education from the UNN.
He described his journey as proof that determination and divine favour can rewrite any story of humble beginnings.
Excerpts
You are one of the PhD graduands at
UNN. How do you feel?
I feel elated. I looked forward to seeing a day like this. I’m about the happiest man on Earth. I remain hugely indebted to my God. It looked impossible but He made a way!
Tell us your journey through to this academic feat.
I had my first degree and Master degree from the prestigious Abia State University Uturu, before I proceeded to UNN for a doctorate degree. Expectedly, doing a doctorate degree in such an institution as UNN comes with a thousand and one challenges. I had failed promises and failed hopes. Coming from my background, I got determined, I gave it my very best bite, today all is now history.
Talking about your background, you once shared with us that you were once a plantain seller. May you throw more light on this your humble background.
Interesting!
Yes, I hawked banana, plantain chips, ogazi egg among others round the streets of Okpu Umuobo in Osisioma Ngwa LGA (Aba) of Abia state to help my parents train me in school. That was our family signature. So I hawked round the streets of Aba. I’d leave the house by 8am and possibly return around 8pm moving around just to sell and get the money for my parents which in turn they used to pay for my school fees. It was hectic and herculean. Thank God it’s in the past.
Now that you have PhD in the Faculty of Education, UNN, what does this academic feat actually mean to you and your family?
First, it’s a testament that the world doesn’t celebrate potentials, it celebrates proofs. Secondly and probably most importantly, it’s a high indicator that God can help a Man. For me, through the help of my parents, I have a solid trust in God. So it’s God and not a man that has brought me this far.
For my family, it re-echoes Gods unflinching love, favour and grace to us and a morale booster to others that all things are possible and probably a caution to the mischievous not to look down on anyone because tomorrow is indeed pregnant!
Apart from finance, tell us other challenges you had through your academic pursuit.
Hahahaha! Finance! Distance! Insecurity, Finance, Finance and Finance.
Did you at any time want to quit because of these challenges?
Not really! I only hiss and complain if necessary.
I had my eyes fixed on the prize!
I knew the God of my parents would see me through. I only resolved to rest, complain but fire on!
When was your darkest moment during this academic journey?
Before my Proposal Defence!
What happened then?
Corrections upon corrections from my supervisor. Come today, come tomorrow!
Your brightest moment?
The day of my external oral examination.
As a lecturer at Abia state University, what does this journey actually teach you?
Don’t write any student off.
In your opinion, what do you say to students who drop out of school because of finance?
If you say YES, God won’t say NO.
Now that you have your PhD, what next? Where are we going to see you in the next ten years?
A better version of myself is all I promise going forward.
On a final note, what is your advice to Nigerian youths who have lost hope in this country?
The world doesn’t celebrate potentials but proofs. Secondly that a cat looks like a lion, doesn’t make it a lion.
