While many people his age are slowing down, 81-year-old Joseph Aheto was walking across a university stage to receive a master’s degree, drawing applause and admiration from academics, students and guests alike at the University of Cape Coast, UCC.
Mr Aheto, father of the Acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Denis Aheto, graduated with a Master of Business Administration, MBA, in Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise Development during the 9th session of the university’s 58th congregation in December 2025.
The moment carried deep personal meaning as the certificate was conferred under the leadership of his son, an experience Mr Aheto described as deeply fulfilling.
“I feel very much excited to have my own son graduating me today,” he said shortly after the ceremony.
The octogenarian’s academic feat did not come out of nowhere. He first earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Ghana in 1978. Decades later, he decided to return to school, driven by an unexpected source of motivation — his own children.
Mr Aheto explained that watching his two sons rise to professorial ranks made him realise they were academically moving ahead of him. Instead of feeling left behind, he took it as a personal challenge to push himself further.
That resolve led him to enrol in the MBA programme at UCC in 2022, a time when his son was neither the Pro Vice-Chancellor nor the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, a point he made clear to dismiss any perception of undue influence.
Also Read: UNILAG honors Okonjo-Iweala, awards 561 first-class degrees
His return to the classroom, however, was not smooth.
He recalled that some younger classmates were initially shocked by his presence and openly mocked him, questioning why someone of his age would still pursue higher education.
Despite the reactions, Mr Aheto remained focused.
“But that didn’t deter me. I soldiered on, and now I have graduated,” he said.
His graduation has since sparked conversations across Ghana about lifelong learning, challenging the widespread belief that education has an age limit.
Mr Aheto’s journey stands as a testament to resilience, determination and the enduring value of education, sending a strong message that the pursuit of knowledge does not expire with age — it only requires courage and commitment.
Pulse News
