A 69-year-old woman, Mrs. Kate Bosede Akomolafe, has joined thousands of new students admitted into the University of Ibadan’s Distance Learning Centre (DLC) for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Mrs. Akomolafe drew attention at the matriculation ceremony held on Friday as she proudly donned her academic gown and cap, taking the matriculation oath alongside over 5,000 other learners admitted into 16 programmes.
Photos of the ceremony, which surfaced on social media on Saturday, quickly went viral, earning admiration from many Nigerians who hailed her determination and passion for education.
According to a post on the university’s official Facebook page, Mrs. Akomolafe, a retired Data Processing Officer from R.T. Briscoe Motor Company, is now a pig farmer and former flour distributor.
She enrolled to study Social Work, a course she said would help her effectively manage her non-governmental organisation.
Born on December 22, 1956, the sexagenarian first obtained her West African School Certificate in 1976 from Government Secondary School, Creek Road, Port Harcourt. Nearly five decades later, she sat for the 2023 WASSCE and NECO examinations to obtain the credits needed to pursue her long-held dream of earning a university degree.
Speaking during the matriculation, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Peter O. Olapegba — who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode O. Adebowale — urged the students to be intentional about their academic and personal development.
In a statement titled “Genuine Success is Achieved Through Deliberate Choices,” Prof. Olapegba advised the new students to cultivate meaningful friendships and uphold the university’s values of discipline and excellence.
He reminded them that success at the University of Ibadan depends not only on academic performance but also on the strength of character and the positive impact they make in society.
He said the institution maintains zero tolerance for misconduct, warning students against any act capable of tarnishing the university’s reputation.