Health
It’s never too late, 64-year-old Nigerian graduates as Nurse in UK
By Hannah Johnson
A 64-year-old Nigerian-born, John Adesoye, has graduated as a registered nurse in the United Kingdom, saying he hopes his achievement inspires others to pursue their dreams regardless of age.
According to BBC on Friday, Adesoye, who grew up in Nigeria, previously worked as an electronics technician in Greece before relocating to the UK in 2013, where he decided to pursue a career in healthcare.
The father of five has now secured a nursing position at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, having joined the facility as a healthcare assistant in 2014.
“If I can do it, others can too. People are more brilliant and stronger than they think,” he said.
Explaining his decision to change careers, Adesoye said his passion for helping people motivated him to transition into healthcare.
“When I was caring for electronic devices, I was happy when I could get broken devices working again.
“In my work in healthcare, when patients get better it gives me great joy and satisfaction,” he said.
Adesoye completed a registered nurse degree apprenticeship at the University of the West of England, working across several departments at Southmead Hospital, including cardiology, accident and emergency, and intensive care.
He said he hopes to continue his education by pursuing a master’s degree if given the opportunity.
“The moment you start in higher education, you’ll see that the door will continue to open for you,” he said.
“It’s never too late,” he added.
Adesoye balanced his studies by spending one day each week at the university’s Glenside campus in Fishponds while working the rest of the week at Southmead Hospital.
Jacqui Caskey and Caroline Bromwich, co-leads of the registered nurse degree apprenticeship programme, praised his commitment.
“Being a nurse apprentice is no mean feat. They juggle this with busy lives, along with family and caring commitments,” they said.
The Chief Nursing Officer at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Professor Steve Hams, also commended Adesoye’s achievement.
“His journey is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to pursue your ambitions,” Hams said.
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