81-Year-Old Father of UCC Acting Vice-Chancellor Bags MBA 47 Years After First Degree,Says "I’m Excited My Son is Graduating Me Today"
Octogenarian Pa Joseph Aheto has just inspired many people across the world as he proved that learning is a lifelong activity that truly has no expiry date, by graduating with an MBA some 47 years after his first degree. The icing on the cake of his success story being that his own biological son was the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University!
By: Olufemi Orunsola
Mr Joseph Aheto, an 81-year-old Ghanaian father, has made the news headlines by his unusual choice of going back to school to acquire a Master's in Business Administration only to graduate with his own biological son sitting as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the the university - University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the 81 years old, Mr Aheto, the father of the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana, Professor Denis Aheto, has proudly graduated with an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise Development in December 2025 amid great excitement that has continued to attract emotional public reactions.
At a time when many youths hold the wrong notion that "School is scam", while many adults resist the idea of returning to school based on excuses of age, multiple family responsibilities and bills, work pressure and the general belief that “school is for the young”, the success story of Mr Joseph Aheto has just inspired many people as he proved that learning is a lifelong activity that truly has no expiry date.
OTN News further reports that the milestone moment, which turned out to be both awesome and inspiring, took place during the 9th session of University of Cape Coast (UCC) congregation.
As reported by the University's website, moments after receiving his certificate, the proud father of the Acting Vice Chancellor said, “I feel very much excited to have my own son graduating me today."
OTN News further gathered that the MBA success story of the Octogenarian becomes particularly interesting upon the realisation that he earned his first degree in Business Administration from the University of Ghana in 1978.
While speaking to the press, Mr Aheto clarified that the motivation to return to school after close to 50 years of graduation actually came from his own children.
Mr Aheto explained that he decided to pursue further studies after realising that his two sons, who were both professors, had overtaken him academically.
He noted that instead of allowing that factor or any other factor to discourage him, he took it up as a challenge.
The octogenarian graduate further explained that it was that decision that made him to enrol in the MBA programme in 2022, noting that, at that time, his son was neither the Pro Vice-Chancellor nor the Acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC.
Commenting on how smooth the academic journey was, Mr. Aheto said, "When I enrolled and commenced lectures, many of the younger students in my class were surprised and were laughing and mocking me, asking what at all this old man wants in life."
He however refused to be discouraged.“But that didn’t deter me. I soldiered on, and now I have graduated,” he proudly said.
Mr Aheto’s story stands as a great inspiration not only to Ghanaians but people across the world that if an 81-year-old man could rise to an academic challenge of further studies, return to school, sit in class, face mockery, write exams and graduate, then anyone else can aspire to any academic or non academic dream, match words with actions and ultimately achieve their dreams against all the odds.
OTN News congratulates the octogenarian MBA graduate and his father, who ispired him- Professor Denis Aheto, the Acting Vice-Chancellor University of Cape Coast, Ghana on this milestone epochal moment.
What's Your Reaction?
