Businessman Zakari Yau-Salihu has taken until now to get his Secondary School Certificate Examination at age 45.
He was among 41 graduates to obtain the certificate under the 2019/2020 FCT Department of Mass Education (DME) Adult literacy programme.
He said he chose to acquire formal education to enable him communicate effectively.
“I grew up in the north and migrated to Abuja to look for money, to take care of myself and my family.
“When I arrived Abuja, I found it difficult to communicate with people because of lack of education. My business suffered setback because people do not understand what I am saying because they don’t speak my language.
“I couldn’t read, write or even speak English language because I didn’t go to school.
In 2011, he registered at primary level, spent three years there and wrote a common entrance exam to secondary level.
He went through both junior and senior secondary.
“Today is our graduation day and it is a great day for me,’’ he said.
He said despite the challenges and discouragement from family members and neighbors, he was able to endure for over 10 years to enable him acquire formal education.
Yau-Salihu said he was already preparing for the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination to enable him further his education.
He explained that majority of his classmates were married and older than him, but that did not hinder them from learning patiently from the much younger facilitators, who taught and groomed them for several years.
He encouraged others to also seize the opportunity to acquire formal education, which would enable them become better citizens, and have alternative source of livelihood.
“My advice to my fellow students, illiteracy is a serious thing, you cannot become a useful person to the society without education.
“Even when you have money, if you are not educated, that money will not be useful to you and you will not know how to manage it well.
“My advice to others is to be patient, come and register yourself in adult education school so that you can learn. Those that have registered already, should be patient, priorities your needs and make sacrifices.
“Forget about the challenges, even in your neighborhood, they will challenge and discourage you, but based on your determination you can make it.’’
Mrs Victoria Nwanyieze, the Zonal Coordinator, FCT Department for Mass Education, Karu, said they had the mandate to provide adult literacy and vocational education for residents, who seek to improve their knowledge.
Nwanyieze said the society had gone digital, hence the need for people to acquire education, “my advice is that they should come here, as it is not too late to learn.’’
