By Harold Ayodo
Prof David Wasawo seems to have taken the saying, "education is a lifelong journey", quite literally.
The pioneer African to get a First Class Honours in Medicine at the University of Oxford retired from lecture halls, but is yet to shed his academic gown.
Wasawo presides over academic functions at the Great Lakes University of Kisumu (Gluk), where he is chancellor.
But he is not the only professor who just won’t call it quits.
Renowned professors Bethwel Ogot and Ali Mazrui are among those who are yet to take academic break.
Picture this: While Wasawo is delivering a keynote address at an academic platform, Prof George Eshiwani, who attained PhD decades after him, is busy at his fish farm in Mulwanda village, Butere District.
Paths for continuity
"Older scholars must guide their younger counterparts towards academic paths for continuity," Wasawo, 86, said during a recent graduation at Gluk.
Gluk Vice-Chancellor Prof Dan Kaseje confers a Doctor of Letters on Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir at a recent graduation at the institution. Left is Chancellor David Wasawo. Photos: James Keyi/Standard] |
He is Professor Emeritus, which in academic circles means experienced professor who has retired but remains an authority in his field.
Moi University Chancellor Prof Ogot says he has ‘retired’ into books.
"I am through with my 35th book, which is 1,400 pages and it took me about two and a half years to complete. It’s with the publishers," he says.
Ogot, who turns 80 this year, says reading and eating traditional food keeps him young.
"I met him when he loved reading and has maintained the same habit 50 years into our marriage," says Mrs Grace Ogot, who is also an author and former Gem MP.
Besides reading, Ogot loves to dance and never misses a chance to show his skills during public functions.
He adds: "I am always reading because I have PhD students to supervise. Publishers, too, send me lots of books," he says.
But Mazrui perhaps leads in the category of those who just won’t call it a day. The Jomo Kenyatta University Chancellor still lectures in the US.
This is a clear contrast from Prof Eshiwani’s life in retirement. He has more than 28 fish farms and prefers to offer his fish farming skills to the locals.
"I teach the youth and interested members of the community ways of using resources like idle land in the area," says the former mathematics lecturer.
Other professors try their hands in other fields but return back to the lecture halls. In this category is former Maseno University College Principal William Ochieng.
After a short stint as Permanent Secretary in the Kanu regime, Ochieng’ returned to Maseno as a History lecturer. He still churns out History books and newspaper articles.
For Prof Owino Okong’o, 72, life in retirement got boring and he is back in the lecture halls at Gluk.
"I started lecturing at the University of Nairobi in 1969. I used to earn Sh1,400 per month — enough money to feed my family, fuel my car and buy reading and research materials," says the Gluk Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs.
Unfinished business
Okong’o gained international academic fame after completing pioneer research on muscle contraction and cardiovascular system.
"I am proud to impart the knowledge to students whom I believe can improve the wellbeing of locals," he says.
At his age, he believes he still has unfinished academic business ahead of him.
Although still considered ‘young’ in his profession, Prof Walgio Orwa, 65, believes there is no set retirement age in the teaching profession.
"Education can be obtained from the most unlikely quarters as I got most of mine from my late grandmother," says Orwa, who is the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science at Gluk.
Young scholars
And when The Standard on Sunday asked Gluk Vice-Chancellor Prof Dan Kaseje why the institution seems to prefer retired professors, he said: "Old scholars are like old wine, they get better with age…they have a mixture of reputable academic papers and vast experience."
And to reinforce his argument, Kaseje adds: "Scholars are more productive after 70 …they guide students better in their projects and academic research."
The VC, who is also an ordained priest, has more than 30 years experience as a doctor, lecturer and medical researcher.
Interestingly, the ‘young’ scholars at Gluk are approaching what is considered the mandatory retirement age in other professions.
For instance, former Director of Medical Services Prof Richard Muga, 57, and Prof Emmanuel Ariga, 51, are among the ‘young’ scholars at the institution.
