Furera Muhammad, a 63-year-old grandmother from Kano State, has enrolled in an Islamic school in Rigafada, where she now sits in class alongside several of her grandchildren. Her decision to return to the classroom comes decades after she was denied formal education as a child, a gap she says robbed her generation of women of the chance to build careers and contribute fully to society.
A Second Chance at Learning
Muhammad, speaking through a community programme organised by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) and the Ford Foundation, expressed regret over missing the opportunity to become a teacher. "I wish I had gone to school when I was young, not now with my grandchildren," she said, according to Daily Trust. Despite her age, she insisted her drive to learn has not faded, and she hopes her example will persuade parents in her community to take their daughters' schooling seriously.
The event, held under the Grannies Network for Change (G-NEC) project, brought together 40 grandmothers in Rigafada to discuss how older women can drive positive change around girls' education and gender-based violence, including verbal abuse directed at women in the home. Leadership reported that the programme aims to leverage the influence grandmothers hold in multigenerational households to shift social attitudes.
Community Impact and Broader Goals
The G-NEC project, currently running in selected communities across Kano and Jigawa states, focuses on raising awareness about girls' education, reducing verbal abuse within families, and encouraging households to become more supportive of women and girls. Muhammad's story exemplifies the project's core message: the desire for education has no age limit, and the consequences of denying girls access to schooling can last a lifetime.
In a related development, Ben Duamlong, a 70-year-old former Super Eagles assistant coach, recently bagged a first-class degree from the University of Jos, among 112 students who achieved the feat. Duamlong said he returned to school after retiring as a football coach because of his passion for education.
Similarly, a Nigerian mother of five made her children proud by returning to school and graduating, with her sign-out video going viral. These stories underscore a growing trend of older Nigerians pursuing education, challenging stereotypes and inspiring younger generations.
