Former government minister and ex-FIFA vice president Jack Warner received a standing ovation as he graduated with a PhD from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) on Monday.

Warner, 82, completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Entrepreneurship and Commercial Studies and said he was “elated” to finally graduate. “Education has no shelf life. You never stop learning,” he said, adding that he hopes his achievement motivates young people.

He acknowledged the challenges of returning to academia, saying there were days he felt “frustrated,” and thanked his family, staff, and professors Prakash Persad and Puran Bridgemohan for guiding his research on corporate entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation in the local media industry.

His family described the milestone as a proud moment. “Daddy studied for long hours. Worked on assignments assiduously,” said his son, Darryl Warner.

During the ceremony at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, Criminal Bar Association president Israel Khan, SC, who received an honorary Doctor of Laws, praised Warner as possibly the oldest person in UTT’s history to earn a PhD.

Other honorary doctorate recipients included educator Jamwant Maharaj, businessman Peter Elias, and Sunshine Awards founder Gilman Figaro.