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Proving that age presents no obstacle to education, 71-year-old Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba has captured public attention after returning to the classroom as an undergraduate law student at the University of Ibadan.
The septuagenarian gained widespread visibility on social media when his daughter, Rihanot Ojo-Oba, shared a viral TikTok video showing him attending lectures alongside much younger classmates.
He was officially admitted as part of the 4,430 students for the 2025/2026 academic session at Nigeria’s premier university, completing his formal matriculation ceremony in March 2026.
His enrollment underscores a commitment to lifelong learning, challenging societal norms regarding age and higher education in contemporary Nigerian society.
Explaining his academic return, Dr. Ojo-Oba revealed that fulfilling a personal goal and reflecting on a prolonged court case during his administrative career inspired him to pursue a legal qualification.
“According to him, he returned back to study law because of his lifelong ambition goal and the impact of a prolonged legal battle during his tenure at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).”
Born on January 7, 1955, in Ibadan, the seasoned administrator celebrated his landmark 70th birthday milestone last year surrounded by family and well-wishers.
His academic foundation includes a Bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Lagos, followed by a Master’s degree in the same subject from the same institution.
He subsequently earned both a Master’s degree and a Doctorate in Sports Administration from the University of Ibadan prior to his recent re-enrollment.
His public service career began in 1989 when he joined the National Sports Commission as a Senior Bilingual Secretary.
Between 1990 and 1995, he managed international competitions for the Nigeria Football Association before transitioning to lead the department of marketing and sponsorship.
He later served as the Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture in Oyo State from 1997 to 1999.
Following his tenure in state government, he advanced to Assistant Director within the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development between 2004 and 2005.
He subsequently occupied the position of Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation from January 15, 2007, until July 26, 2010.
In addition to national roles, Dr. Ojo-Oba served extensively as a security officer for both the Confederation of African Football and FIFA across several international tournaments.
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