Meet Tadesse Ghichile, the Ethiopian father of 11 who just enrolled at a university at age 69

Francis Akhalbey May 20, 2022
Tadesse Ghichile enrolled at an Ethiopian university at the age of 69 -- Photo via BBC

Tadesse Ghichile is making a name for himself in his home county of Ethiopia after he gained admission to a university at the age of 69. According to BBC, the father of 11 dropped out of school in the eighth grade after his parents died.

But he took it upon himself to go back to school 10 years ago. And that has definitely paid off as he got the opportunity to pursue a medical degree at Jimma University. The educational institution is said to be one of the biggest universities in the Horn of Africa nation.

A farmer, Ghichile also has another job at a café in his village. But despite working those two jobs to support his family, the 69-year-old managed to make time for himself to partake in the national university entrance exam. He eventually passed.

Going back to school became a herculean task for Ghichile particularly after he started his family, BBC reported. But after he re-enrolled, he became committed to seeing it through.

Ghichile also told the news outlet that he’s optimistic about the future, and he has been receiving tremendous support from his university mates over the last few years.

Last Edited by:Mildred Europa Taylor Updated: May 20, 2022

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