Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday, had his first day in class as a Masters/Ph.d student of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN.
The former president is studying for a Masters and Doctorate degree in Christian Theology.
The class which took place in Ota, Ogun State, was held with his internal supervisor, Philip Tachin, a lecturer in Systematic Theology and a pastor.
Mr. Obasanjo said he was optimistic that additional knowledge in Theology will help him understand how to use religion in the alleviation of problems that affect people at the grass roots generally but particularly in Africa.
After receiving an outline for the course, he was given his first assignment to review a number of literatures on the subject and to present a research paper for review.
Mr. Obasanjo obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in 2009.
The Masters degree will precede the Doctorate degree.
Last month, Mr. Obasanjo had told PREMIUM TIMES that he was returning to school to achieve his aspirations in life.
“I’m going back to school because I have to have something to aspire to in every endeavour of life,” Mr. Obasanjo had said.
“I always aspire to something new in my farm. I do that in my international activities. I do it in my writing. I do it in the improvement of my academic work which helps to sharpen my brain and strengthen my faith.”
The National Open University was initially established in 1983 but was suspended by the then military government in 1984.
Mr. Obasanjo resuscitated it in 2001.
In November 2006, a few months to the end of his eight-year tenure, the then president enrolled for a post graduate diploma in Christian Theology at the university.
He graduated in January 2009.
Born on March 5, 1937, Mr. Obasanjo attended Abeokuta Baptist High School; Mons Officers’ Cadet School, Aldershot, England; Royal College of Military Engineering, Chatham, England and School of Survey, Newbury, England.
He also attended the British Royal Engineers’ Young Officers School, Shrivenham, England; Indian Defence Staff College; Indian Army School of Engineering and Royal College of Defence Studies, London.
He enlisted into the Nigerian Army in 1958.
He was Nigeria’s Head of State between 1976 and 1979 when he voluntarily handed over to a civilian administration led by Shehu Shagari. In 1999, he was elected president. His tenure expired in 2007.