At 71, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba is proving that the pursuit of education has no age limit after returning to the classroom to study law at the University of Ibadan.
Ojo-Oba, a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), recently attracted attention on social media after a video showing him in class with younger students went viral, particularly on TikTok.
The video was shared by his daughter, Rihanot Ojo-Oba, and showed the septuagenarian attending lectures alongside his fellow students.
Earlier in 2026, Ojo-Oba was among the 4,430 newly admitted students for the 2025/2026 academic session at the University of Ibadan. He subsequently took part in the university’s matriculation ceremony in March.
His decision to return to school at an advanced age has been widely viewed as an example of lifelong learning and a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge does not have an expiration date.
Why Ojo-Oba returned to study law
For Ojo-Oba, the decision to study law was not simply about earning another academic qualification.
He said he returned to the classroom to pursue a lifelong ambition, while his experiences during his years at the Nigeria Football Federation also influenced his decision to study law.
His lengthy career in sports administration exposed him to several complex issues, including a prolonged legal battle during his time at the football federation.
That experience, combined with his longstanding interest in law, eventually encouraged him to return to university and begin a new academic chapter at an age when many people have already retired from active professional life.
From French graduate to sports administrator
Born on January 7, 1955, and a native of Ibadanland, Ojo-Oba has built a career spanning public service, sports administration and football management.
He began his academic journey with a degree in French from the University of Lagos before obtaining a master’s degree in the same discipline from the institution.
He later expanded his academic qualifications by earning a master’s degree and doctorate in Sports Administration from the University of Ibadan.
His professional career began in the civil service in 1989, when he joined the National Sports Commission as a Senior Bilingual Secretary.
He subsequently headed the International Competitions Department of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) between 1990 and 1992 before becoming Head of the Competitions Department, a position he held from 1992 to 1995.
In 1995, he became Head of the NFA’s Marketing and Sponsorship Department before moving to the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, where he worked in planning until 1997.
Political and football administration career
Ojo-Oba later served as Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture in Oyo State between 1997 and 1999.
He returned to the federal public service and rose to the position of Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development, where he served from 2004 to 2005.
His career in football administration reached another major milestone when he became Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation on January 15, 2007.
He remained in the position until July 26, 2010.
Beyond his work with Nigerian football, Ojo-Oba also held responsibilities within international football administration. He served in various capacities with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), including roles involving FIFA committees.
A new chapter at 71
Ojo-Oba’s return to university has added another chapter to an already extensive career.
Rather than viewing age as a limitation, he has chosen to pursue an ambition that remained unfinished, returning to the classroom decades after completing his earlier degrees.
His story also highlights the growing importance of lifelong learning, particularly at a time when education is increasingly viewed as a continuous process rather than something that ends with a first degree or a professional career.
For Ojo-Oba, the journey from French graduate to sports administrator, public servant, football executive and now law student reflects a career shaped by a willingness to take on new challenges.
At 71, his latest challenge is back in the classroom—and this time, he is studying law.
