Lazaro Ole Kipeiyani, 80 years old, who graduated from Open University
in Arusha last weekend. (Photo by Hazla Quire).
- Attends ceremony on crutches due to accident after exam
80 – year- old Lazaro Ole Kipeiyani was among the 75 students who graduated last weekend from the Arusha Center of the Open University where he was taking a bachelor’s degree in law.
He attended the graduation ceremony on crutches support having been involved in a hit-and-run accident last September. A Toyota Noah hit him while crossing the road as he was walking from the Open University Premises, returning home after writing examinations.
Some of the Open University graduates and members of staff posing for a photo. Seated third left is the Guest of Honour, Arusha’s Regional Commissioner, Daudi Felix Ntibenda. (Photo by Hazla Quire)
At the ceremony his wife was supporting the him in his movements. Despite his eight decades of life and recent accident, Ole Kipeiyani was in bouncing health. He is a father of four and has four grandchildren .
Neither the accident nor his advanced age deterred him from attaining his lifetime ambition. “I used to help local residents to compile a number their legal writings before taking cases to courts,” he explained adding that the task prompted him to take law studies for real.
A former civil servant under various offices, Ole Kipeiyan is also a holder of Degree in Theological studies, though he did not clarify how he was making use of the latter.
The Arusha Regional Commissioner, Mr Daudi Felix-Ntibenda was surprised by the 80-year-old Open University graduate and during the occasion of him gracing the ceremony, he took the initiative to award Ole Kipeiyan with 100,000/- instant cash.
It was female students on the other hand, who topped the bill when it comes to the performance at the Open University in Arusha with all the top three awards being bestowed to them during the graduation ceremony.
The best students were named Ms Anna Mahenge, Bertha Gilbert and Elisifiwe Kileo.
The Regional Commissioner said it a was shame for Open University in Arusha to operate from a tiny rental structure and promised to help the college get a plot on which the official campus is to be constructed.
Meanwhile the Open University has recorded great achievements, including establishing learning and exams centres in practically all regions of mainland Tanzania as well as Zanzibar and Pemba, in addition to extending to other countries such as Kenya, Rwanda and Namibia.
The General Secretary for the Open University Students Organization at Arusha Center, Mr Kassim Mfinanga, said it was time OUT expands further into rural areas in order to serve majority of Tanzanians living there.
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