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Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? - Programming - Nairaland

Nairaland ForumScience/TechnologyProgrammingAm I Too Old To Learn A Skill? (1723 Views)

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Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by CalmElder(op): 2:12pm On Jul 01, 2025
I am 46 years old, going to 47.
I've always wanted to learn a computer skill, and while at it, further my studies.

I am a secondary school leaver and came to Lagos over 10 years ago to learn ethical hacking but dropped out due to financial constraints.
I want to study UI/UX Design.

Am I too old to start?
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by 2special(m): 3:47pm On Jul 01, 2025
No not at all....Go for your passion.... Learn whatever you wish to learn for your growth
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by NairaLikes: 4:11pm On Jul 01, 2025
How many times this same question pops up. There is no age limit for learning new thing
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by Thereedemer: 6:07pm On Jul 01, 2025
CalmElder:
I am 46 years old, going to 47.
I've always wanted to learn a computer skill, and while at it, further my studies.

I am a secondary school leaver and came to Lagos over 10 years ago to learn ethical hacking but dropped out due to financial constraints.
I want to study UI/UX Design.

Am I too old to start?
47 omor and here I am thinking it's too late ..omor if person no go school na tech go save person o ajeh
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by CalmElder(op): 6:29pm On Jul 01, 2025
2special:
No not at all....Go for your passion.... Learn whatever you wish to learn for your growth
Thanks. I'm encouraged, honestly.
I'm becoming bored so i need to take on more challenges.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by CalmElder(op): 6:33pm On Jul 01, 2025
post=135950306:
How many times this same question pops up. There is no age limit for learning new thing
True.
I and the other ones who asked a similar question only need affirmation, then people's perspective on the subject or experiences that could be of value.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by DevLaive: 9:34am On Jul 03, 2025
I'll advise you not to learn a tech skill because people said there is money in tech. If making money is your only motivation for wanting to learn a tech skill, you'll be disappointed in the long run. Learn something that you'll enjoy doing. And if you enjoy doing it, that's when the money will come. And age is not even a barrier.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by tensazangetsu20(m): 11:23pm On Jul 03, 2025
DevLaive:
I'll advise you not to learn a tech skill because people said there is money in tech. If making money is your only motivation for wanting to learn a tech skill, you'll be disappointed in the long run. Learn something that you'll enjoy doing. And if you enjoy doing it, that's when the money will come. And age is not even a barrier.
Story for the gods. He can also learn tech cause of money and still make it. Money was my motivation and glory be to God
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by DevLaive: 3:42am On Jul 04, 2025
tensazangetsu20:
Story for the gods. He can also learn tech cause of money and still make it. Money was my motivation and glory be to God
And for any reason, if the money stops coming in when you no longer have gigs at hand (this happens sometimes), then you'll quit? And jump into something else because of the money? I'm not surprised when I see people claiming to build a website for 20 or 25k. It's the motivation for money and not the passion to dive deep and learn what it really costs to become a professional. Becoming a professional is only born out of passion and not merely a motivation for money. Tech don suffer!
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by SKhanmi: 10:15am On Jul 04, 2025
Not too old. Just not UIUX, it has a low entry barrier and the job market for it is saturated. Trust employers to take advantage and offer peanuts, you might as well learn graphics design and be done with it.

Find something harder and stick to it. Cloud, backend or System admin. You can check out other learning paths also or go back to ethical hacking.

And you must have a steady income to back you up.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by Karleb(m): 10:56am On Jul 04, 2025
Yes, you are too old. Go and learn bricklaying. okay? undecided
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by CalmElder(op): 1:29pm On Jul 04, 2025
SKhanmi:
Not too old. Just not UIUX, it has a low entry barrier and the job market for it is saturated. Trust employers to take advantage and offer peanuts, you might as well learn graphics design and be done with it.

Find something harder and stick to it. Cloud, backend or System admin. You can check out other learning paths also or go back to ethical hacking.

And you must have a steady income to back you up.
Thanks. I like your take on the topic.
I will check out the ones you have mentioned.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by Adv14(m): 2:40pm On Jul 04, 2025
Karleb:
Yes, you are too old. Go and learn bricklaying. okay? undecided
Lol 😂 before he Sabi am nko
Except he wan be causal worker
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by Karleb(m): 4:05pm On Jul 04, 2025
Adv14:
Lol 😂 before he Sabi am nko
Except he wan be causal worker
Then he is too old to learn anything.

He should fall in love with unemployment.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by Grandfather1(m): 7:46pm On Jul 06, 2025
At 47? My brother, you’re just starting second half. I learned how to use smartphone properly at 52 — now I send voice notes like small pikin. Learning no get expiry date.

UI/UX? Go ahead. If the eyes are still clear and the brain still dey catch things, nothing stop you. Just make sure say you get small patience and steady internet.

When I started learning Excel, I nearly faint from formula overload. Now I build budget sheets for my wife’s akara business. That one na tech too.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by CalmElder(op): 10:10pm On Jul 06, 2025
Grandfather1:
At 47? My brother, you’re just starting second half. I learned how to use smartphone properly at 52 — now I send voice notes like small pikin. Learning no get expiry date.

UI/UX? Go ahead. If the eyes are still clear and the brain still dey catch things, nothing stop you. Just make sure say you get small patience and steady internet.

When I started learning Excel, I nearly faint from formula overload. Now I build budget sheets for my wife’s akara business. That one na tech too.
grin you are very funny.
I appreciate your input. Now I'm determined about enrolling, but someone suggested I take another course, that UI/UX is saturated already.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by airsaylongcome: 1:08am On Jul 07, 2025
CalmElder:
grin you are very funny.
I appreciate your input. Now I'm determined about enrolling, but someone suggested I take another course, that UI/UX is saturated already.
No do UI/UX. These "new cats" aka young bloods go destroy you there. Look for something most people run away from. For a n00b, someone already suggested System Admin. Allied to Syd Admin is Devops. I would suggest Help Desk->System Admin and ultimately Devops. I be "grandpapa" like you. But this field doesn't care about age. At least not in your 40s. Welcome. And stay the course. You will run into stuff that will make you consider quiting. That's the time to dig into your core and tell yourself why you are doing this. Na escape from poverty all of us dey. Dem go say 46 na old man. But person wey die at 46 die young. Nor let age pressure you. Na when person wake na hin be hin morning
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by CalmElder(op): 5:27pm On Jul 07, 2025
airsaylongcome:
No do UI/UX. These "new cats" aka young bloods go destroy you there. Look for something most people run away from. For a n00b, someone already suggested System Admin. Allied to Syd Admin is Devops. I would suggest Help Desk->System Admin and ultimately Devops. I be "grandpapa" like you. But this field doesn't care about age. At least not in your 40s. Welcome. And stay the course. You will run into stuff that will make you consider quiting. That's the time to dig into your core and tell yourself why you are doing this. Na escape from poverty all of us dey. Dem go say 46 na old man. But person wey die at 46 die young. Nor let age pressure you. Na when person wake na hin be hin morning
Na wao.
Una just dey wow me with correct correct advices.
I really appreciate. I will research more about the course.
Thanks.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by DevLaive: 9:43am On Jul 08, 2025
@lordZOUGA I think this topic is front-page worthy as there are many out there who might find the suggestions here very useful.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by Emnyte(m): 12:25pm On Jul 08, 2025
airsaylongcome:
No do UI/UX. These "new cats" aka young bloods go destroy you there. Look for something most people run away from. For a n00b, someone already suggested System Admin. Allied to Syd Admin is Devops. I would suggest Help Desk->System Admin and ultimately Devops. I be "grandpapa" like you. But this field doesn't care about age. At least not in your 40s. Welcome. And stay the course. You will run into stuff that will make you consider quiting. That's the time to dig into your core and tell yourself why you are doing this. Na escape from poverty all of us dey. Dem go say 46 na old man. But person wey die at 46 die young. Nor let age pressure you. Na when person wake na hin be hin morning
What about data engineering? Does it fall into the category of something "most people run away from"?
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by airsaylongcome: 12:31pm On Jul 08, 2025
Emnyte:
What about data engineering?
Does it fall into the category of something "most people run away from"?

Yes, that also falls into the same bucket
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by HassieMalcomson(f): 6:09pm On Jul 12, 2025
Absolutely not! You are not too old to begin anything new.

Your age is an advantage in many ways. At 46, you bring life experience, maturity, focus, and a sense of responsibility that many younger learners are still developing. Those qualities are incredibly valuable in design, especially UI/UX, where understanding people, empathy, and problem-solving are key.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by Oem18(m): 6:22am On Jul 14, 2025
No smiley
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by ResidentSnitch(f): 9:25pm On Jul 14, 2025
DevLaive:
And for any reason, if the money stops coming in when you no longer have gigs at hand (this happens sometimes), then you'll quit? And jump into something else because of the money? I'm not surprised when I see people claiming to build a website for 20 or 25k. It's the motivation for money and not the passion to dive deep and learn what it really costs to become a professional. Becoming a professional is only born out of passion and not merely a motivation for money. Tech don suffer!
There are several things that could motivate one. Earning more is definitely one of them
When the gigs or the money stop coming, you develop a passion for it, or you develop it along the way, or you even switch ( it's a free world).
And surely, becoming a professional is not only borne out of passion.
Some people were practically coarsed into some courses without the initial passion for it and yet, they are doing well in the field.
Go for it.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by DevLaive: 7:09am On Jul 15, 2025
ResidentSnitch:
There are several things that could motivate one. Earning more is definitely one of them
When the gigs or the money stop coming, you develop a passion for it, or you develop it along the way, or you even switch ( it's a free world).
And surely, becoming a professional is not only borne out of passion.
Some people were practically coarsed into some courses without the initial passion for it and yet, they are doing well in the field.
Go for it.
And maybe that's one of the reasons why there is a prevalence of incompetence in most public offices and establishments. The idea is to have a deep interest in something first, follow it and then the money will come. That interest most times is born out of curiosity, and not primarily to make money. I repeat: don't go into tech because you want to make money, you may be discouraged in the long run!
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by ecosystm(m): 6:27pm On Jul 15, 2025
My advise: Forget your age, if you have a dream to achieve, you are still Young-Anonymous

Age is just a number..When your interest is high, your energy follows. When the idea is alive in you, the emotion is strong. — Jon R.

Am 43, and currently taking python course, my aim is to be able to use this knowledge to gather data, analyse dem, find insights and make data-driven, smarter decisions in solving real-world problems with intelligence and purpose..

So, go ahead — chase that idea, follow the fire, and rock your world, bro.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by CalmElder(op): 7:13pm On Jul 15, 2025
I appreciate each and every one who gave me a word of encouragement.

Hopefully, before the end of this year I will enroll for a course.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by NexLoaded: 6:29pm On Jul 17, 2025
Better learn better video editing skill and go into content creation for YouTube. It will pay more if you are serious than wasting your time learning programming.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by etoluw: 11:49am On Jul 18, 2025
CalmElder:
I am 46 years old, going to 47.
I've always wanted to learn a computer skill, and while at it, further my studies.

I am a secondary school leaver and came to Lagos over 10 years ago to learn ethical hacking but dropped out due to financial constraints.
I want to study UI/UX Design.

Am I too old to start?
The main issue is do you have what it takes. I have seen several people of various ages who ventured into tech and later dumped it because they couldn't cope.

Tech is definitely not for everyone.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by CalmElder(op): 2:08pm On Jul 18, 2025
etoluw:
The main issue is do you have what it takes. I have seen several people of various ages who ventured into tech and later dumped it because they couldn't cope.

Tech is definitely not for everyone.
I have passion, I am a very resilient person, plus I never start what I can't complete.
Re: Am I Too Old To Learn A Skill? by JohnE0595(m): 11:06am On Jul 25, 2025
airsaylongcome:
No do UI/UX. These "new cats" aka young bloods go destroy you there. Look for something most people run away from. For a n00b, someone already suggested System Admin. Allied to Syd Admin is Devops. I would suggest Help Desk->System Admin and ultimately Devops. I be "grandpapa" like you. But this field doesn't care about age. At least not in your 40s. Welcome. And stay the course. You will run into stuff that will make you consider quiting. That's the time to dig into your core and tell yourself why you are doing this. Na escape from poverty all of us dey. Dem go say 46 na old man. But person wey die at 46 die young. Nor let age pressure you. Na when person wake na hin be hin morning
No be small motivation.. grin
Me sef don learn one or two. Thank you.
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