RIYADH: Old age is not an obstacle to education as shown by 63-year-old Owaida Al-Fahiqi who on Friday graduated with a university degree.

Al-Jouf Gov. Prince Fahd bin Badr handed him his certificate with the cum laude citation from the University of Al-Jouf.

“I’m no longer a spring chicken, you know, but I intend to pursue master’s and doctorate degrees if my health and financial resources allow it,” he said.

He added that he’d do it to serve as an inspiration to Saudi youths in the region so that they’d also aspire for further education which is key to success.

“I experienced difficulties and it has not been easy for me to acquire education. But I’d do exactly what I did if I have to live life all over again,” he said.

He said that he had wanted to study at King Saud University or Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University in the Saudi capital but it was difficult for him.

“My children were still young so it was not easy for me to leave. I eventually enrolled at the University of Al-Jouf two years before my retirement,” he said.

He completed his studies after retirement at the Department of Islamic Law.

He said that he began his studies at the primary school of Sakaka City, then joined the Scientific Institute and the Institute of Directors in Dammam.

“At present, I have an olive farm and I won the Prince Fahd bin Badr Prize for the best olive oil in 1434 AH,” he said, adding that he could not ask for more.

As befitting enlightened Saudis, he has joined the Founders Club of Arabism. He has also been a member of the Jockey Club for the last ten years.