Dr Bolaji Ojo-Oba, wey be former Secretary-General of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), don shock many pipo as e return to school at age 71 to study law for University of Ibadan (UI). The old man wey get PhD since 2008 join 4,430 new students wey dem admit for 2025/2026 academic session, and dem don matriculate am on March 11.
Ojo-Oba talk say e decision to go back school na because of seven years of court wahala wey e face after Nigeria 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign for South Africa. As e dey serve as NFF Secretary-General, dem drag am and three other NFF officials to court for case of misappropriation of funds. Dem arrest Ojo-Oba, Sani Lulu, Amanze Uchegbulam, and Taiwo Ogunjobi on July 7, 2010, and arraign dem on September 6, 2010.
The case drag from Federal High Court, Abuja, where dem convict dem for 2016, reach Court of Appeal wey discharge and acquit all four for 2018. Ojo-Oba yarn say all the years wey e dey go court make am develop interest to study law proper. “Whenever we leave court, I dey go bookshop for Federal High Court in Abuja to buy books on the citations and rulings wey dem mention for our cases,” e talk.
“Now say I don retire and free, why I no go study the law myself, the same law wey I face for court for seven years?” Ojo-Oba add. E talk say e case for go lost if not for e Personal Assistant, Dr Chris Emeruwa, wey keep records well well.
The old man explain say e interest for law don dey since secondary school days, but e never get chance to pursue am until now. “This one no be say I wan practise law. I just wan fulfil my lifelong dream to become lawyer. Even though my pikin wey be lawyer join our legal team, my journey na personal matter. The dream na mine,” e talk.
Ojo-Oba use direct entry route enter UI. Before now, e get B.A. and M.A. in French from University of Lagos, and M.Ed and PhD in Organisation and Administration of Sports from UI. E talk say e dey enjoy classroom with young students wey dey call am “Daddy.” “We dey like family. For Law, everybody dey wear same black suit and tie. No distinction. I see myself as one of them,” e yarn.
E acknowledge say law course hard well well. “Law dey demand. Plenty reading, overnight studies, and constant engagement with texts and citations. But I get everything wey I need to manage am: rest, preparation, and determination,” Ojo-Oba talk. E family dey support am for house so e fit focus on e studies.
Ojo-Oba reveal say some other old students dey for Law program, including some wey dey their 50s, but e talk say age no be barrier. “We dey the same platform, and we all dey approach our studies with the same seriousness. Age no be limitation,” e talk.
E plan to complete the four-year undergraduate course, attend law school, and eventually wear lawyer gown and wig. “I wan make dem celebrate me as lawyer. By God grace, I go achieve this dream,” Ojo-Oba talk. E also advise other old Nigerians to embrace lifelong learning and pursue their passions.
“I wan dey useful to myself first, and by doing so, dey useful to society. If my decision inspire other pipo, na so e be. Knowledge no get boundaries, and e never too late to follow your dreams,” Ojo-Oba conclude.
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