{"id":418,"date":"2025-09-02T08:04:19","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T08:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/?p=418"},"modified":"2025-09-05T14:40:50","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T14:40:50","slug":"from-inspiration-to-impact-my-phd-journey-in-psychology-at-rgu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/2025\/09\/02\/from-inspiration-to-impact-my-phd-journey-in-psychology-at-rgu\/","title":{"rendered":"From Inspiration to Impact: My PhD Journey in Psychology at RGU"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following in her mum’s footsteps, Kevbe obtained a Phd at RGU<\/a> looking at mental ill health in Nigerian prisons. She shares how her PhD thesis came to life and her experience as a research<\/a> student at RGU.<\/p>\n

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What Inspired me to Pursue a PhD<\/h2>\n

My journey toward a PhD began with a powerful role model\u2014my mum. Watching her earn her own doctorate showed me what was possible with determination and passion. Her achievement didn\u2019t just inspire me\u2014it planted a seed. I knew I wanted to challenge myself, to reach that same level of academic excellence, and to contribute meaningfully through research.<\/p>\n

During my master\u2019s in Public Health, I took a module called Population Health and Wellbeing. It was a turning point. The module broadened my understanding of health promotion and made me realise just how complex and interconnected the social determinants of health can be. One topic in particular stood out: health in prison settings. That was when my interest turned into a clear research direction.<\/p>\n

As I delved deeper, I became increasingly aware of the profound mental health challenges faced by people in prison. Mental ill health is unfortunately widespread in correctional facilities, yet it remains one of the most under-researched and under-addressed issues\u2014especially in Nigeria. I noticed a significant gap: very little was known about how mental health services are accessed and experienced by both correctional officers and incarcerated individuals in Nigeria\u2019s prison system.<\/p>\n

This gap became the foundation of my research. I was motivated to explore the lived experiences of people in prison engaging with mental health services, and to shine a light on an area that had been largely overlooked. My PhD became more than an academic pursuit\u2014it became a personal mission to contribute new knowledge and advocate for change.<\/p>\n

Highlight of my PhD Journey<\/h2>\n

One of the most exciting highlights of my PhD has been the discovery of original insights that hadn\u2019t been explored before. I found that culture and religion significantly influence how people in prison perceive and engage with mental health services. This also extended to correctional officers\u2014many of whom hold strong religious beliefs that shape their attitudes towards Western medicine.<\/p>\n

To my surprise, no existing research had examined these intersections within Nigeria\u2019s correctional system. It was deeply rewarding to be the first to uncover these patterns and to offer new perspectives that could help improve mental health services in such a complex setting.<\/p>\n

My Experience as a Postgraduate Researcher at RGU<\/h2>\n

Being a postgraduate research (PGR) student at Robert Gordon University has been a truly transformative experience. It\u2019s not just about academic growth\u2014it\u2019s been a journey of personal development, resilience, and discovery.<\/p>\n

The support I received from my supervisory team was outstanding. Their guidance, alongside the encouragement of fellow PhD researchers and the wider university community, helped me stay grounded and focused through every phase of my project. RGU\u2019s emphasis on applied research and real-world impact made it an ideal environment to carry out my work.<\/p>\n

What I\u2019ve valued most is the freedom to explore my research in depth while being part of a vibrant academic culture. I\u2019ve had opportunities to present my work, engage in meaningful collaborations, and sharpen my skills for future academic and professional roles. The journey has certainly had its challenges\u2014but it\u2019s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.<\/p>\n

Kevbe Ofobrukweta<\/em><\/p>\n

Related blogs<\/h2>\n

From undergraduate to a PhD in Social Work at RGU<\/a><\/p>\n

Being a Research Student at RGU \u2013 Craig\u2019s story<\/a><\/p>\n

The post From Inspiration to Impact: My PhD Journey in Psychology at RGU<\/a> appeared first on RGU Student Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following in her mum’s footsteps, Kevbe obtained a Phd at RGU looking at mental ill health in Nigerian prisons. She shares how her PhD thesis came to life and her experience as a research student at RGU. What Inspired me to Pursue a PhD My journey toward a PhD began with a powerful role model\u2014my mum. Watching her earn her […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":380,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-animals"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=418"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":419,"href":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418\/revisions\/419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ozcars.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}