…An incredible tale of testimony, twists and truth

By Luminous Jannamike, Abuja

ROLL up, roll up to the recent viral showdown on Nigerian soil, where the line between a divine decree and a degree in law became blurred. This is a story set in the nation’s capital, Abuja, about the fascinating world of the  B.Sc in Law  a rare and special degree.

Our story begins in the hallowed halls of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, where the air buzzes not only with the holy spirit but also with the electric charge of controversy. 

Veronica Anyim, a woman whose academic odyssey would spark a theological tussle. She steps up to the altar with a tale of triumph – a  B.Sc in Law_ from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) clutched in her metaphorical hands.

But hark! From the pulpit descends the church’s founder, Pastor Paul Enenche, armed with divine doubt and a PhD in ‘Pastoral Puzzlement.’

“A B.Sc in Law?” he thundered, “Preposterous! The testimony is a lie. Go and sit down.” Testimonies in church are typically moments of divine inspiration, but this time, it was a battle of facts and faith.  The congregation gasped. Could Veronica, their sister in faith, be weaving a web of lies? Could Pastor Enenche have been too zealous in his quest for truth, or did he simply miss the mark? The Pastor’s declaration immediately set the stage for a fact-checking frenzy.

Behold the mighty keyboard warriors and the noble sleuths of social media, embarking on a quest for truth. They delved into the archives of NOUN, they scoured through graduation records, they parsed project topics – no stone was left unturned. And what do they find? 

Verily, Veronica veritably has a law degree! In fact, her degree is recognized by none other than the Nigerian Law School, putting a dent in Enenche’s sermon. Meanwhile, Anyim’s Facebook page was abuzz with graduation photos, further solidifying her claim to a degree. 

A collective cheer erupted from the digital realm, for the underdog has triumphed. Apparently, Pastor Enenche didn’t do his homework before calling out Anyim on the pulpit.

In the aftermath of the revelation, the National Open University of Nigeria, perhaps nudged by the not-so-gentle prod of public pressure, hastened to update their website. 

A source from NOUN, speaking anonymously, declared in response to inquiries, “Yes, we do award a degree in Law, and it is accredited by the NUC (National Universities Commission) – there’s no need to scrutinize the previous website content compared to the current information available.”

But what of Veronica? As it turns out, she is not just a graduate but a guardian of the law, a police officer sworn to protect and serve. 

Pastor Enenche seemed to have bitten off more than he could chew, with legal experts speculating on potential defamation claims and debates about the limits of religious freedom. It’s not every day you see a showdown of this magnitude in the house of the Lord!

The pastor, in a twist befitting the end of a Shakespearean play, issues a statement – not an apology per se, but an explanation. Perhaps it’s an olive branch or maybe just a bid to restore the peace.

So, what can we glean from this rollicking rollercoaster of a tale? A few nuggets of wisdom. First, in the age of information, a little fact-checking goes a long way. Secondly, never underestimate the power of a Nigerian to surprise you with their academic achievements despite potential challenges in communication. Lastly, when in church, it may be wise to keep one’s academic accomplishments to oneself to avoid sparking a theological debate.

The _B.Sc in Law_ story reminds us that in Nigeria, every achievement is important, whether it’s in religion, law enforcement, or education. May your degree be respected by everyone, regardless of what it is. Amen.

Nigerians React

The following comments by Nigerians on social media provide a range of perspectives on the matter, with some expressing sympathy and concern for Veronica, while others question her integrity and background. The comments also touch upon the broader issues of handling criticism with compassion and love, the importance of integrity, and the societal challenges faced by individuals.

Thelma Nkechinyere Eze wrote: “Honestly, the embarrassment was too much. Before you embarrass people in public, put yourself in their shoes. The damage he (Enenche) has done to that lady will go down to the grave with her. There’s a way to correct people without having to ridicule or shame them. Since he already knew she was lying from the word go, simply ask her and then correct her politely. Putting her down is totally wrong. This is not Christianity. The Bible says to correct in love. I’m sorry to say there’s no love in this.”

Patrick Clement wrote: “That lady is a policewoman and probably didn’t obtain that certificate to practice, but rather to fulfill all righteousness. I should question the pastor who accepted her testimony without screening it before presenting it at the altar.”

Bisong Mary Iyare wrote, “I detest the embarrassment. As Christians, we should do more. Not everyone has the IQ that you possess. Many have fought very hard to reach where they currently are. Clearly, she is setting a new record in her family, and it should not be expected to come easily. I admire her fighting spirit and boldness. I am convinced that this is also a plot from the universe to elevate her. If you have never walked in her shoes, you should be ashamed to laugh at her. God is blessing you, my sister.”

Engineer Ebiotubo Amakubukuro wrote: “There are many Nigerian graduates who don’t know the degree they graduated with. She might have gained admission, but she never attended classes. There are many like her out there.”

Alice John Onuh wrote: “I don’t find this funny, to be honest. I hope she knows how to handle embarrassment and that she doesn’t consider something as extreme as suicide. There are better ways to deal with this situation. May God help us all.”