Joyce-ofallfulfils her passions
GROWING up in Nigeria, Joyce Abumujor wanted to train as a mechanic, but she was denied the opportunity because of her gender.
After fleeing her own country in 1989 and settling in the UK in 2004, she raised her family. However, Joyce, 51, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, remained keen to return to education.
In 2016, she signed up for construction courses at Chesterfield College in Derbyshire. Having completed her Level 1 plumbing and Level 2 bricklaying courses, Joyce is now studying for a Level 2 plumbing course.
She has also started a law degree at the University of Derby and plans to embark on further courses.
Joyce, a healthcare assistant, says: ‘At the age of 14, I had no problems spending my summer holidays with my father at his auto service garage carrying out technical duties on different models of cars.
‘I also assisted him in building our house fence as he was so gifted in getting the best from restorations.
‘I later developed the passion for how my dad configures cars and wanted to pursue it as a career, but was discouraged by my parents due to how the villagers would perceive it.’
Joyce said she has always been ‘inclined’ towards technical tasks and looked at the college courses available in Britain.
She adds: ‘It is very hard combining my work as a healthcare assistant with my studies, and especially the law exams. But I am greatly enjoying the plumbing course.’
Joyce also aims to set up and run an organisation that teaches construction skills to young people in Nigeria. She says: ‘I completed Level 2 bricklaying and proceeded on to plumbing because I thought that the relevant skills would be a good example that will promote and empower mainly young girls, boys and women. These skills will enable them to gain their independence.’
Joyce recently won an Outstanding Individual Learner Award at the Festival of Learning’s national awards ceremony in London. She advises adult learners to be ‘courageous and give learning a go’.
She notes: ‘You will never regret it. You can start by trying free online courses gradually before you take on any full-time course.
‘Now I’m back in education, nothing is going to stop me. I want to be part of making a change and my learning is giving me the tools to do that.
Steve Collins, plumbing tutor at Chesterfield College, says: ‘ If the passion for education Joyce has shown in college is anything to go by, we are confident she will do great things with the skills she is learning.’