On May 3rd, 2023, I presented my PhD research in a final seminar which was the last milestone for PhD students at QUT (Queensland University of Technology).

After the final seminar, a panel of experts in my field, including my supervisors, offered detailed feedback on areas to improve the quality of my thesis before I could lodge for examination. I was given three months to work on all feedback. My supervisors are then expected to continue to support me in bringing my PhD thesis to an examination standard.

Yesterday, Wednesday, 30th August, 2023, at exactly 7:32 pm, I got an email from my principal supervisor Dr. Julie Anne King to advise that they are convinced that my thesis is ready for examination. They gave their approval for me to submit. It was one of the most beautiful email I have ever read😀.

This morning at 8:46 a.m., I officially submitted my PhD thesis for examination. I started my research in 2019. I conducted about 52 interviews across six Nigerian states with two groups of people (1) persons with disabilities living with HIV (2) Healthcare practitioners.

My PhD research was titled ” “𝑫𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚: 𝑨𝒅𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑨𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒚 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑯𝑰𝑽 𝒊𝒏 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂”.

My thesis was submitted as a large document of 99, 489 words with 307 pages. The journey to this point was a long one. Today I feel proud of myself to have reached this stage.

The PhD is not yet over, as I am now under examination. This means my thesis will be sent to two experts in my field who will read my thesis and provide a comprehensive report and verdict to QUT. It is after these reports have been received in the next couple of months that a decision can be made about my PhD degree and qualifications.

I do not have a PhD yet but something tells me I am closer to the finish line.

Today I choose to celebrate this milestone of completing my thesis and submitting it for examination.

There is so much to say but the story will be told when this is completely over.

Thank you to my supervisors.

Thank you to my beautiful bride Squeezim (Ezinne), for challenging me to get here.

Thanks to my most-priced PhD publications Zoe and Zita.

Thanks to all who cheered me from the sidelines to get me here.

Congrats AAP. You should be proud of yourself.

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