Kano Grandmother Returns To School At 63

At an age when many women are enjoying retirement and spending time with their grandchildren, 63-year-old Furera Muhammad has returned to the classroom to pursue the education she was denied as a child.

Furera, who attends an Islamic school alongside some of her grandchildren in Rigafada, Kano State, said she still regrets missing the opportunity to receive a formal education during her childhood, when girls of her generation were rarely encouraged to attend school.

“I wish I had gone to school when I was young, rather than now with my grandchildren,” she said, adding that she would probably have become a teacher if she had been allowed to pursue formal education.

She explained that the lack of educational opportunities for girls during her childhood prevented many women from fulfilling their potential and making greater contributions to society.

Despite her age, Furera said her determination to acquire knowledge remains unwavering. She expressed hope that her experience would inspire parents to prioritise their daughters’ education and encourage girls already in school to remain dedicated to their studies.

Furera 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) project in Rigafada.

The programme brought together 40 grandmothers to discuss their role in promoting girls’ education and preventing gender-based violence, particularly verbal abuse against women.

The G-NEC project aims to harness the influence of grandmothers in multigenerational households to promote positive social norms, improve girls’ access to education and reduce gender-based violence through community dialogue and culturally appropriate messaging.

The initiative is being implemented in selected communities across Kano and Jigawa states to raise awareness of the importance of girls’ education, reduce verbal abuse within homes and encourage families to create safer and more supportive environments for women and girls.