A graduation story across generations

Senior researcher at the University of Cape Town’s Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Rakiya Saidu, was awarded her doctorate in gynaecology while her daughter Aisha Yahaya received her bachelor's degree in fine arts during UCT’s autumn graduation.

While Dr Saidu’s work continues to advance women’s healthcare across Africa, Aisha’s art explores the intricacies of Hausa identity, using photography and mixed media to reconnect with a culture shaped by distance. Together, their graduation was more than the culmination of years of study; it was also a shared homecoming, a tribute to family, and a testament to the unyielding strength of women chasing knowledge, together.

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