OAU admits 74-year-old ex-soldier into 100 level

"Its better late than Never" they say.... that is the story of a 74-year-old retired military man, Colonel Layiwola Adegunju, who recently secured admission to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, to study Law.


He was among the 5,000 new students that got admission to the university, out of the 72,500 candidates that applied for admission to OAU.


This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, after the 50th matriculation of the institution.



According to the statement, the septuagenarian, who is from Erunmu, Ibadan, Oyo State, was the cynosure of all eyes at the ceremony attended by the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, all the principal officers of OAU, the new students and their parents and relations.


Omole, while speaking at the ceremony, commended the father of four for his courage and determination to search for knowledge in spite of his age.


The VC also used the occasion to reaffirm the non-discriminatory admission policy of the OAU. According to him, education is not limited by age and anyone who stops learning should consider himself or herself dead.


The VC also advised the new students to shun any violent demonstration, lock-out and unruly behaviour which, he said, could lead to the closure of the university and thus elongate their stay on campus.


Omole, who was elated presiding his first matriculation since he assumed office as the VC 10 months ago, stated that the students were his own symbolic “first born”.