At 71 He Returned to University to Pursue His Dream of Studying Law

At a time when many people would consider their formal education complete, 71 year old Dr Bolaji Ojo Oba has returned to the classroom to pursue a long held ambition to study Law at the University of Ibadan.

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Ojo Oba became a subject of widespread public interest after a video showing him attending lectures with younger students circulated on social media.

He was among the 4,430 students admitted by the University of Ibadan for the 2025/2026 academic session and was formally matriculated in March 2026.

His decision to study Law was driven by a lifelong ambition as well as his experience of a prolonged legal dispute during his years in football administration.

Rather than allowing age to close the door on a dream he had carried for years, Ojo Oba decided to return to academic life.

His educational background was already extensive before his latest academic pursuit. He holds a degree and master’s degree in French from the University of Lagos, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in Sports Administration from the University of Ibadan.

He also has a long career in public service and sports administration, including his time as Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation.

His experience in football administration exposed him to complex institutional and legal issues, which reportedly strengthened his desire to understand the law more deeply.

Now, decades after beginning his professional career, he sits in a university classroom alongside students who are considerably younger than him.

His return to school has generated widespread admiration and renewed discussions about lifelong learning.

For many observers, his story demonstrates that education does not necessarily have an expiration date. It also challenges the assumption that university education is only for young people beginning their careers.

Ojo Oba’s journey at the University of Ibadan has consequently become more than a personal academic pursuit. It has become a reminder that curiosity, ambition and the desire to acquire new knowledge can continue throughout a person’s life.

At 71, he is once again a university student, pursuing a dream that remained unfinished for decades.