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Why I’m undergraduate at 65
—Pa Ahmadu
VICTORIA IBANGA, Features Editor and BUKKY ADEBOMI
A 65-year-old
man who left school in 1952 and is presently an undergraduate of Lagos State
University (LASU), Pa Alimi Olanarewaju Ahmadu, said education is a factor in
mental stimulation and alertness.
Pa Ahmadu, a father of five, four
graduates and one undergraduate, in an interview with Daily Champion at
the Ojo campus, said the only way one could keep his brain active and function
was by reading.
After leaving school about 52 years ago,
Pa Ahmadu, the son of a former cocoa farmer from Ibadan in Oyo State has taken a
bold step towards the realization of his long forgotten dream.
"The youngest undergraduate on campus," as
the old man is called is studying Sociology.
Pa Ahmadu, who described himself as a
"family man with an ambition," said he is an ardent believer in education and
sees it as a human right rather than a privilege.
He described education as the greatest
legacy that conveys happiness and prestige to an individual.
"There is no age limit. Education makes me
happy, the more you read, the happier you will be. So, education is an important
thing in the life of a man. I call it a human right," he said.
Sitting comfortably under a tree and
fielding questions at the Ojo campus, he said he had resolved to pursue his
career to its logical conclusion.
"I really enjoy going to school and I will
not stop. I have told my Head of Department that after the first degree, I will
do my Masters and Ph.D", he revealed.
Pa Ahmadu noted that with education, there
is a lot of benefit attached, one of which is that "the brain will not go dull",
adding "because I have something to do all the time, for instance, I was given
an assignment and I am going to do it. So, it keeps someone busy."
In addition, he said that his greatest
ambition is to contribute his own quota to the development of society, since he
is part and parcel of it. "I am part and parcel of the society, I want to do
something that will contribute to the economic development of Nigeria," he said.
He disclosed that his greatest ambition is
to be an asset to the society rather than a liability, saying "in short, my
focus and aim are to be an asset to the society and not a liability."
Pa Ahmadu who spoke passionately about the
support he is getting from his family and LASU said that he is enjoying moral
and financial support from both.
The university on the recommendation of
Dr. Atere and the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Odumosu, has given
him a scholarship for the duration of his course of study, he disclosed.
He said although there are several
challenges facing him as a student, they all are surmountable "with the
cooperation of my lecturers," adding "I enjoy reading, but it is not easy being
a student."
Pa Ahmadu who described the relationship
between him and lecturers as cordial, noted that "some of them (lecturers) are
my sons’ age mates and they call me Pa Ahmadu."
The journey to where he is now began in
1987 when he sat for his Ordinary level examinations in preparation for
continuing his education from where he stopped in 1952, after graduating from
St. David’s School, Kudeti, Ibadan in Oyo State.
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