Businessman Zakari Yau-Salihu has taken so far to urge his lyceum Certificate Examination at age 45.
He was among 41 graduates to obtained the certificate under the 2019/2020 FCT Department of Mass Education (DME) Adult literacy programme.
He said he chose to accumulate formal education to enable him communicate, manage his
“I grew up within the north and migrated to Abuja to seem for money, to require care of myself and my family.
“When I arrived Abuja, I found it difficult to speak with people due to lack of education. My business suffered setback because people don’t understand what i’m saying because they don’t speak my language.
“I couldn’t read, write or maybe speak English because I didn’t attend school.
In 2011, he registered at primary level, spent three years there and wrote a standard entrance examination to secondary level.
He went through both junior and senior secondary.
“Today is our graduation day and it’s an excellent day on behalf of me ,’’ he said.
He said despite the challenges and discouragement from relations and neighbors, he was ready 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 to the university level.
He explained that majority of his classmates were married and older than him, but that didn’t 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 chance to accumulate formal education, which might enable them become better citizens, and have alternative source of livelihood.
“My advice to my fellow students, illiteracy may be a serious thing, you can’t become a useful person to the society without education.
“Even once you have money, if you’re not educated, that cash won’t be useful to you and you’ll not skills to manage it well.
“My advice to others is to twiddling my thumbs , come and register yourself in course school in order that you’ll learn. people who have registered already, should twiddling my thumbs , priorities your needs and make sacrifices.
“Forget about the challenges, even in your neighborhood, they’re going to challenge and discourage you, but supported your determination you’ll make it.’’
Mrs Victoria Nwanyieze, the Zonal Coordinator, FCT Department for Mass Education, Karu, said that they had the mandate to supply adult literacy and vocational training for residents, who seek to enhance their knowledge.
Nwanyieze said the society had gone digital, hence the necessity for people to accumulate education, “my advice is that they ought to come here, because it isn’t too late to find out .’’
