79 year-old woman bags university degree

A 79-year-old woman, Hajiya Fatima Kurfi was among 1,678 graduates of Al-Qalam University in Katsina, Katsina State at the university’s convocation last week.Fatima who is elated on this feat was admitted into the university in 2005 and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Islamic Studies in 2009, but her convocation ceremony was deferred, with that of others, till last week when the university held its maiden convocation for seven sets that have passed through the institution.Age was no barrier to fulfilling her dream. The mother of four and over 20 grandchildren earnestly pursued her desire to acquire knowledge just at the nick of time.Having missed the opportunity to further her education at an early age; she jumped at it when another offer was flung her way.According to reports “Fatima skipped primary school for no fault of hers and was taught by her husband to read and write. When her husband, now a retired permanent secretary, went to England to study, again she missed having formal education, until his return to Nigeria, when she enrolled in an Arabic Teachers’ College for secondary education. She even shared the classroom with her children.“There was no stopping her thereafter. She took a diploma certificate at Dan Fodio College and then got enrolled at Al-Qalam University in 2005 to 2009.”