Age Is Just a Number: 64-Year-Old Nigerian Qualifies as Registered Nurse in the UK

A 64-year-old Nigerian-born man, John Adesoye, has officially qualified as a registered nurse in the United Kingdom, proving that it is never too late to pivot careers and chase new milestones.

Adesoye, a father of five who grew up in Nigeria, previously worked as an electronics technician in Greece before moving to the UK in 2013. Seeking a career change driven by a desire to help people, he entered the healthcare sector in 2014, starting as a healthcare assistant at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. Following his graduation, he has now secured a permanent role as a registered nurse at the same facility.

Reflecting on his journey, Adesoye noted that his passion for fixing things easily translated from electronics to human care. He explained that while fixing broken devices used to bring him joy, seeing patients recover and return to good health provides an entirely different level of professional fulfillment and satisfaction.

Adesoye earned his qualification through a rigorous registered nurse degree apprenticeship at the University of the West of England. The program required him to split his time efficiently, spending one day a week at the university’s Glenside campus in Fishponds while working the remaining days across various intensive departments at Southmead Hospital, including cardiology, emergency medicine, and intensive care.

Program co-leads Jacqui Caskey and Caroline Bromwich commended his resilience, noting that completing a nursing apprenticeship is exceptionally demanding, especially when balanced alongside personal, family, and care commitments.

Hospital leadership also celebrated the achievement, with Professor Steve Hams, Chief Nursing Officer at the Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, describing Adesoye’s journey as an inspiring reminder that ambition has no expiration date. With his undergraduate qualification complete, Adesoye has no intentions of slowing down and expressed hope to advance his clinical education further by pursuing a master’s degree.