In a world that often suggests it’s “too late” to begin again, Aden Muhumed Omar, better known as Aden Gab, stands as living proof that learning has no age limit.
Now 59 years old and a diploma student at Garissa University, Aden’s remarkable educational journey began just over a decade ago, at the age of 45.
In 2012, while many of his age were preparing for retirement, Aden was preparing for class.
He enrolled in primary school, sitting side by side with children younger than his own.
Undeterred by whispers and judgment, he embraced the challenges and walked a path few dare to tread.
His determination paid off in 2019 when he sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), scoring an impressive 296 marks.
Determined to continue, Aden joined Young Muslim High School in 2020.
For three years, he studied alongside teenagers, committed to his goals despite the generational gap and social challenges.
In 2023, he sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), completing yet another milestone in his transformative journey.
But for Aden, the end of secondary school was just the beginning. In 2024, he enrolled at Garissa University to pursue his passion in Peace, Security, and Conflict Resolution.
He first completed a certificate course and is currently studying for a diploma, which he expects to complete in 2026.
Even more inspiring, he has set his sights on a PhD.
In an open letter titled “My Journey of Education in Old Age and the Silence of My Leaders”, Aden shares his story with a blend of vulnerability and strength.
“I write this letter with a heart full of experience, pain, determination, and hope,” he wrote.
“My journey is not an ordinary one—it is a story of resilience against all odds.”
Aden’s story is not just about formal education. It is about rewriting the script society assigns to age, circumstance, and ambition.
He represents countless others who, though overlooked or dismissed, hold within them the capacity for transformation.
To the youth who may take education for granted, and to adults who feel their time has passed, Aden’s life is a profound reminder: the time to begin is now.