A Graduate at 80

A graduate of Sociology at 80 years, already enrolled for an MSc programme in Human Resources and Industrial Relations and a burning ambition to crown this academic effort with a PhD, God and age allowing – that is the gripping story of Pa Alimi Amodu, who just graduated from the Lagos State University, (LASU), Ojo, Lagos. 

Pa Amodu was the cynosure of all eyes on June 13 when, with 27,086 others, spread over three graduating years, he attended a glorious convocation at the university’s Ojo campus. The weather was dank and wet; and the ceremony was literally drowned in rain water. Yet, such was the inspiring story of Pa Amodu, whose far younger class and university mates referred to as “Baba Bookworm” (in happy jab at his studious nature) and “youngest student”(in playful irony to his old age), that he shone through the inclement weather, like powerful sunrays.

Even on that day, there was happy controversy over Pa Amodu’s age. The LASU convocation orator said the graduating student was 80, by far the oldest of the pack. But Pa Amodu’s son, Dr. Akeem Amodu, a senior lecturer at Leeds City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, said his father was 75. That accounted for this newspaper’s headline the following day, putting the new graduate’s age at 75.

But 75 or 80, Pa Amodu’s feat is no less remarkable. It is superb inspiration story in a country that features many listless youths, crushed by the sheer hostility of the environment; and apparent lack of adequate youth-friendly government policies and programmes.

For those distraught youth, however, Pa Amodu’s story should be a most inspiring one. For one, at 80, the octogenarian is not only working on a Master’s programme, he is determined to crown it all with a PhD. For another, before embarking on his academic odyssey, he had put in 35 years at the Medical Records Department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos. That simply means that it is never too late to do good or do right, when the resolve is there. That should speak directly to the youth, who more often than not, ends up in premature frustration, thus preparing the ground for a lifetime of stress. With focus and determination, it needs not be that way.

But another important message: nothing good comes easy; and neither age nor ego must stand in the way of correction. Pa Amodu recalled the painful experience of being stood up in class by a lecturer perhaps young enough to be his own son; and the friendly jeers of his far younger classmates, when once he drifted off in sleep in his class. His lecturer after that experience advised him to always take something very light before coming to class. He took the correction to heart. The result has been his academic success.

For an elderly citizen, Pa Amodu has simple but profound words for the youth: “A time wasted is a time lost. Nothing interests me again at my age as much as reading whatever book I can lay my hands on. That is what gives me joy.” Now, that is word on marble on two crucial fronts: the imperative to make the best use of time and the need to build a reading culture, and become an enlightened society.

The sudden popularity of Pa Amodu, on account of his academic accomplishments, also underscores society’s abiding approval of solid achievement, particularly in the field of education. Much as philistines in the disoriented contemporary Nigeria would wish to project, our society retains its abiding admiration for learning and scholarship.

That certainly is good news from the general sordid impression that Nigeria, our dear country, had lost everything.