Until recently, Shade Ajayi had never gone to school. Now 50, the businesswoman is learning to read and write alongside students nearly 40 years younger than she is. Ajayi attends a school in Ilorin, in Nigeria’s western Kwara state. She wears the same uniform, or school clothing, as hundreds of girls at the school: a pink dress and head covering. “I’m not ashamed that I wear a uniform,” she said. As a child, Ajayi worked in her aunt’s shop instead of attending school. She now runs her own business making and selling purses and bags. But she believes her inability to read or write is holding her back. Ajayi signed up to attend school last year, but the school closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Schools reopened in January and Ajayi finally got her chance. She sits in a class with students aged 11 to 13 and raises her hand to answer questions. Ajayi’s teacher, Nasrat Busari, said she did not appear worried about the age difference with other students. “She has been coping well with them: playing together, talking together and discussing things together,” he said. Ajayi’s daughter, Shola Adeboye, said at first, she was embarrassed that her mother attended school alongside children. But later, she supported her mother’s efforts.