At 69, Mrs. Kate Bosede Akomolafe has proven that age is no barrier to education as she joined over 5,000 new students at the University of Ibadan’s Distance Learning Centre (DLC) matriculation ceremony for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Newsonspot reports that the inspiring grandmother took the matriculation oath on Friday, administered by the University’s Registrar, Mr. Ganiyu O. Saliu, during a colourful event that marked the beginning of an academic journey for fresh students across 16 programmes.
Photos of Mrs. Akomolafe, dressed in her matriculation gown and cap, quickly went viral on social media, earning admiration for her determination and passion for learning.
According to a post on the university’s official Facebook page, Mrs. Akomolafe is a retired Data Processing Officer who once worked with R.T. Briscoe Motor Company. She is currently a pig farmer and former flour distributor.
Now studying Social Work, she said the course will help her manage her non-governmental organisation more effectively.
Born on December 22, 1956, she first obtained her West African School Certificate in 1976 from Government Secondary School, Creek Road, Port Harcourt. Almost five decades later, she decided to retake her WASSCE and NECO exams in 2023 to qualify for university admission – fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Delivering an address on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Peter O. Olapegba, encouraged the matriculants to pursue success intentionally.
In his speech titled “Genuine Success is Achieved Through Deliberate Choices,” Professor Olapegba reminded students that every lecture, relationship, and decision would shape their future, urging them to make responsible choices.
He emphasized that the University of Ibadan remains a vibrant community where academic pursuit meets character development and warned against misconduct that could tarnish the institution’s image.
He concluded that real success is not only measured by academic excellence but also by the resilience, insight, and positive impact students bring to society.
Mrs. Akomolafe’s story stands as a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge has no age limit – and that determination can rewrite any life chapter, no matter when it begins.
