Kano Grandmother Returns to School at 63, Champions Girls’ Education
A 63-year-old woman in Kano State, Furera Muhammad, has enrolled in school in a bid to acquire the education she was unable to access during her childhood.
Furera, who now attends classes at a school in Rigafada alongside some of her grandchildren, said her decision was driven by a long-standing desire to learn and improve her knowledge despite her age.
She explained that limited access to education for girls in her younger years prevented many women of her generation from pursuing formal schooling and achieving their full potential. According to her, returning to the classroom represents an opportunity to fulfil a lifelong ambition and set an example for younger generations.
The grandmother spoke during a community engagement programme organised by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) in collaboration with the Ford Foundation under the Grannies Network for Change (G-NEC) initiative.
The programme, which brought together about 40 elderly women, focused on the role of grandmothers in promoting girls’ education and addressing gender-based violence within communities, particularly verbal abuse.
Furera expressed hope that her experience would encourage parents to prioritise the education of their daughters and motivate young girls to remain committed to their studies.
The G-NEC initiative is designed to leverage the influence of older women in multigenerational households to promote positive social norms, expand access to education for girls, and foster safer environments for women and children. The project is currently being implemented in selected communities across Kano and Jigawa states.
Organisers say the initiative uses community dialogue and culturally relevant messaging to challenge harmful practices and improve attitudes toward girls’ education.
Furera’s return to school highlights the growing awareness of the importance of education at all stages of life and shows ongoing efforts to close the gender gap in access to learning opportunities in northern Nigeria.
