Meet 68-yr-old Nigerian grandfather who bagged first-class degree in UK

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Chris Osagbaekhoe

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A 68-year-old Nigerian-born grandfather has graduated with a first-class degree in social work from Goldsmiths, University of London, after returning to education as a mature student.

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Chris Osagbaekhoe, who was born and raised in Nigeria and now lives in Thamesmead, south-east London, received his BA (Hons) in Social Work at a graduation ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster on September 2.

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The father of four and grandfather of 12 began his social work studies at the age of 64, driven by a desire to support vulnerable people and advocate for those whose voices are often unheard.

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Chris had previously studied psychology and counselling between 2013 and 2015 before deciding to pursue a career in social work.

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“Part of the inspiration was to empower people to empower themselves, and part of the motivation was to be a voice to the voiceless – that was my inner drive,” he said.

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According to Goldsmiths, Chris experienced setbacks during his academic journey and transferred to the university in 2024 but remained determined to complete his studies.

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His personal experience with disability also influenced his desire to advocate for others.

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“There are abilities in disability. My lived experience has given me empathy, understanding and the determination to empower others,” Chris said.

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He said he hoped his achievement would encourage other mature students and people living with disabilities to pursue their ambitions regardless of their age.

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“If I can achieve this at 68, others can too. People are often far stronger and more capable than they realise,” he said.

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Chris also credited resilience, faith and the support he received from Goldsmiths for helping him overcome the challenges he encountered during his studies.

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“I’m happy there were challenges along the way, but because of resilience and faith, and the support from Goldsmiths University, we are celebrating success today,” he said.

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The lecturer in social work at Goldsmiths, Dr Carmen Yau, described Chris’s journey as one of “extraordinary determination, courage, and hope”.

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She said his story demonstrated that education could be transformative at any stage of life and reflected the values of social work, including resilience and belief in people’s potential.

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Chris is now looking for his first job as a qualified social worker.

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Beyond his career, he hopes to establish a community-based project or community centre to support young people and help steer them away from crime.

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A multi-instrumentalist who plays the drums, keyboard, guitar, bass guitar and trumpet, Chris also plans to use his musical talents to inspire the next generation.

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As he celebrated his graduation, he left other aspiring students with a simple message: “Your dreams do not expire because of your age.”

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