Abubakar Muhammad Barinjimi is in the twilight of his life at 88 but, sitting here in his primary school classroom, he’s got ambitious plans for further education well beyond his centenary.
His fellow students at this school in Nigeria’s main northern city of Kano are seven-years-old, they haven’t the kind of long beard he boasts, and while they fit on small chairs, his is special to accommodate his frame.
Yet Barinjimi is learning exactly what they’re learning as he builds up to his ultimate goal — a doctorate in theology.
That could be some way off — he’s still mastering the art of reading and writing, and going through school and college at the same pace as the average student would make him at least 120 before he gets a doctorate.
Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
”I’m not deterred by my age,” the bespectacled Barinjimi said, holding his pencil as he looks up from his book with a broad smile. ”My ultimate ambition is to bag a doctorate degree in theology before I depart this world.”
The retired builder enrolled in 2008 at the privately-run Nigeria-Egyptian Model School, which teaches Islamic theology alongside conventional subjects.
Dressed in a chequered kaftan of white and brown, a pair of brown trousers with matching cap, white socks and brown plastic sandals, Barinjimi looks like any other pupil in this mainly-Muslim northern city.
He has eight children and over 60 grandchildren and travels 6km by bus to school.
His children, who were themselves educated, help out.
”I was elated when he told me of his plan to go to school, and so were my siblings,” said one son, 42-year-old college teacher Sani Barinjimi.
”We give him all the moral and financial support he requires to actualise his dream and we are proud of him.”
Barinjimi’s initial goal was to be able to read the Qu’ran. Having achieved that to some extent, the next step is to become a theology expert so that he can preach Islam to English-speaking non-Muslims.
For a doctorate certificate Barinjimi needs at least 25 more years — four at primary, then junior and senior high schools before college, first degree, master’s degree and finally the doctorate.
Barinjimi’s decision to start school at the age of 87 underscores the low literacy rate in this state of 10-million people which, according to the Kano State Agency for Mass Literacy, stands at 34%.
Nationally, Nigeria’s literacy rate has improved markedly in the past few years, from 55,3% in 2003 to 69,1% this year, according to the education ministry.
However, Barinjimi is one of those who have been left behind because they never had the opportunity of attending school.
Instead of making him attend classes, his father took him to a local builder where he became an apprentice.
It was a trade that enabled him both to earn a decent living and bring up eight children, all of whom went to school.
Nicknamed Baba (‘father’ in the local Hausa language) by his teachers and co-students, Barinjimi isn’t bothered by the age difference with those around him.
”I feel happy learning among these friends, whose presence around me gives me much courage and encouragement,” he said, ”although they are not older than my grandchildren”.
”In fact, I have two grandchildren — a girl and a boy — studying in this school and the granddaughter who is eight is in grade three while I’m in grade two and I have no problem with that.”
Teachers and students say he is making progress.
”He is the fourth in academic performance in his class, he always takes the fourth position in any quiz or examination the class conducts. He is learning fast,” said head teacher Suleiman Garba Hussein.
”It’s just amazing how he has been able to adapt to the school environment and behave as a seven-year-old. He gets along with all the pupils and doesn’t want to be treated differently.”
”We enjoy learning with Baba and he is wonderful when we play. He is among my best friends in the school,” said Fatima Garba, a fellow pupil.
Whether Barinjimi obtains his doctorate, he feels he has learned something in the past year.
”The one important lesson I have learnt is that without education life is worthless,” he said.
”I’ll strive to earn my doctorate as long as I live.” – AFP
