Nigerian-born grandfather Chris Osagbaekhoe has graduated with First Class honours in Social Work from Goldsmiths at 68.
At 64, he went back to university.
At 68, he walked away with a First Class.
Chris Osagbaekhoe, a Nigerian-born father of four and grandfather of 12, has graduated with First Class honours in Social Work from Goldsmiths, University of London.
He now lives in Thamesmead, south-east London.
But his story is not simply about a university certificate.
It is about refusing to accept that age has an expiry date.
ValidViewNetwork reports that Osagbaekhoe began his Social Work degree as a mature student in 2022.
He had already studied Psychology and Counselling between 2013 and 2015.
Then he decided to pursue another academic path.
This time, he wanted to work with vulnerable people.
Disability did not stop him
Osagbaekhoe lives with a disability that causes chronic pain and affects his mobility.
His own experience became part of his motivation.
He wanted to advocate for people whose voices are often ignored.
He also wanted to help vulnerable families and people facing difficult circumstances.
His journey was not completely smooth.
He experienced setbacks and transferred to Goldsmiths in 2024.
He nevertheless continued.
The result was a First Class degree.
His message is bigger than the certificate
Osagbaekhoe believes life experience can become an advantage rather than a limitation.He says resilience, compassion and wisdom are valuable qualities in social work.
That belief now sits at the centre of his story.
He has also made his achievement personal.
He hopes it encourages mature students and people living with disabilities to pursue their own ambitions.
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His message is simple.
Dreams do not expire because of age.
That message carries particular weight in a society where people often believe that education has an age limit.
Osagbaekhoe has offered a different answer.
Sometimes, the question is not whether you started late.It is whether you started at all.
What comes next?
The degree is not the end of his journey.
Osagbaekhoe is now looking for his first role as a qualified social worker.
He wants to support adults, vulnerable families and people living with disabilities.
For a man who began the journey at 64, the next chapter is only beginning.
Four years ago, he returned to the classroom when many people might have been thinking about retirement.
Now, at 68, he has a First Class degree and another ambition.
The certificate may hang on his wall.
But the bigger lesson is likely to live much longer.
It is never too late to become the person you still hope to be.
ValidViewNetwork reports.
