In a world obsessed with youth, 78-year-old Hammid Taju has stopped the clock, earning a PhD in French and proving that intellectual hunger knows no age limit.

The auditorium at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) erupted not for a pop star or a politician, but for a white-haired scholar who walked the stage with the steady gait of a man who has lived a full life. Hammid Taju, at 78, became the oldest PhD graduate at the university’s 56th convocation, a moment that transcended the ceremony and became a lesson in lifelong resilience.

Taju’s journey is not one of sudden impulse but of disciplined pursuit. A career banker and public servant, he could have retired to a quiet life of leisure. Instead, he chose the rigors of academia, diving deep into the complexities of the French language. "It taught me discipline," he remarked, a twinkle in his eye betraying the immense effort behind the accolade.

From Banking to Books

Taju’s resume reads like a history of Nigeria’s corporate evolution. He served as an executive director at the Nigerian Printing and Minting Company and later at Union Bank. Yet, the boardroom was not his final destination. Upon retiring, he returned to the classroom, first for a Master’s degree and finally for the ultimate academic prize.

"I didn't want to rust," Taju told reporters. "The mind is like a muscle; if you don't use it, you lose it." His thesis, a dense exploration of French linguistics, was defended with the same vigor he once brought to high-stakes financial negotiations. His success shatters the stereotype that higher education is the exclusive preserve of the young.

A Lesson for the Youth

The sight of Taju in his academic gown resonated deeply in a continent where education is often seen merely as a ticket to employment rather than a journey of self-improvement. He represents a generation that values knowledge for its own sake. His achievement challenges the "microwave success" mentality of the digital age, reminding us that true mastery takes time.

• The Milestone: Oldest PhD graduate at UNILAG's 56th Convocation.
• The Field: Doctor of Philosophy in French.
• The Legacy: A career spanning decades in Nigeria's top financial institutions.

The endless Horizon

For Taju, the PhD is not a capstone but a cornerstone for his next chapter. He plans to use his expertise to bridge linguistic divides in West Africa, advocating for French as a tool for regional integration. His story is a powerful manifesto: ambition has no expiration date.

As he held his scroll high, the applause was not just for the degree, but for the audacity of hope. Hammid Taju has reminded us all that as long as we have breath, we have the capacity to learn, to grow, and to conquer new worlds.