A 50-year-old Nigerian proves it's never too late to learn

Shade Ajayi intends to continue her education for four more years

Published: March 31, 2021 12:56 Reuters and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Senior Web Editor

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Shade Ajayi had never set foot in a classroom until middle age. Now 50, the businesswoman is happily learning to read and write alongside students nearly four decades younger than her. Image Credit: Reuters

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Donning the pink dress and bonnet that make up her uniform, she joins hundreds of similarly dressed pupils at a school in Ilorin, in Nigeria's western Kwara state. Image Credit: Reuters

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"I'm not ashamed that I wear a uniform," she said. Image Credit: Reuters

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As a child, she worked in her aunt's shop instead of attending school. She now runs her own business making and selling purses and bags, but believes her inability to read or write is holding her back. Image Credit: Reuters

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Ajayi signed up to attend school in the last academic year, only for it to close due to the coronavirus pandemic. But schools reopened in January and Ajayi finally got her chance. Image Credit: Reuters

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Sitting at a wooden desk, surrounded by pupils aged 11 to 13, she politely raises her hand to answer questions. Image Credit: Reuters

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Ajayi's teacher, Nasrat Busari, said the mature student appeared completely undeterred by the age gap. Image Credit: Reuters

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"She has been coping well with them: playing together, talking together and discussing things together," he said. Image Credit: Reuters

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It has been hard to juggle school and work, and deal with the stigma. Image Credit: Reuters

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Her daughter, Shola Adeboye, said she was initially embarrassed that her mother attended school alongside children, but later came around. Image Credit: Reuters

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"She has always wanted to be educated but she couldn't (until now)," Adeboye said sympathetically. Image Credit: Reuters

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"People around me can read and write and they are succeeding in their businesses," said Ajayi. Image Credit: Reuters

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She intends to continue her education for four more years, saying it will help her business. Image Credit: Reuters

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And of those who might ridicule her efforts, she said: "It's my duty not to pay attention to what they're saying." Image Credit: Reuters

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