A Father Forever: He never missed a moment—not even while earning his Master’s

– A busy GM tells of growing pains and growing pride

In many traditional households, the father is seen as the provider—the one who ensures the bills are paid, the roof stays over everyone’s head, and food remains on the table.
But what’s rarely told is the untold journey—those long nights, heavy sacrifices, and silent battles fought just to ensure a future for the family.
For General Manager (GM) of Times Media Group, Mohammed Azim, this has been the proud story of his life.
While balancing fatherhood and professional demands and academic pursuits, Azim recently completed his Master’s in Business Administration through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).
But what truly stood out wasn’t the graduation cap—it was how he managed to stay consistently present in his daughter’s life through it all.
“Even though she’s still an adult, I still had to find time. So you find that I use the time of driving home when you can’t basically do anything. So that’s the time when I, you know, make sure I connect with her, we talk. Spend the quality time during the time of heading home to catch up on those conversations,” he shared.
Those car rides weren’t just commutes. They became sacred ground—where conversations flowed, where laughter replaced silence, and where fatherhood unfolded in the simplest, most impactful ways.
Mohammed’s commitment to fatherhood began much earlier, when he was pursuing his bachelor’s degree and his daughter was still a toddler.
“It all comes down to planning and making use of your time wisely,” he said. “When I did my initial study, my bachelor’s, she was not in primary school. She was much younger. What I used was the time when she was asleep—especially on weekends. But when she was awake, I tried to make her part of the process. Like, come, come, turn this page. Get her to be a part of my study. Let her feel that she’s part of it.”

Even amidst the chaos of parenting and studying, Azim prioritised presence. He’d include her in his study rituals, asking her to turn book pages or fetch snacks—showing her she mattered in every step of his journey.
Azim carries those values forward, and in one touching moment, he shared what truly made him reflect on the passing of time as a dad.
“My favourite moment was when my daughter was getting ready to go off to high school. It dawned on me that she’s no longer a baby. Then came university and eventually her first day of work. That’s when I knew—she’s stepping into the real world. We can now talk about jobs, work life, and everything in between. That was a proud moment.”
He further explained how the logistics of parenthood became part of his daily grind. There were mornings when he had to leave work to help get his daughter ready for school, then return to the office. His lunch breaks weren’t for rest—they were reserved for school pick-ups. Afternoons were spent helping with homework and listening as she recounted the events of her day.
“And because both me and my wife are working professionals, it was difficult raising a child. And, of course, pretty much when they were a baby, we could not leave because they were uncomfortable, hungry. Maybe they needed a diaper change at the same time they wanted to play. And then we had to juggle that while at the same time being at work,” he said.
He credited his daughter’s grandparents for stepping in when needed but emphasised that when it came to getting her to and from school, either he or his wife were always present.
“She would never have taken a taxi if it was not me or her mother,” he said. “Getting them out early was a problem. Kids want to sleep, watch TV, or get distracted. I would have to go to work, come out, take her to school, and then adjust my lunch hour accordingly.”
His approach to fatherhood stems deeply from the roots of his own upbringing.
Growing up with five siblings, Azim was the only boy. His father, a cane cutter, and his mother, a seamstress and housewife, couldn’t offer wealth—but what they gave in education and values, they gave in abundance.
“My father realised from early on that he couldn’t provide wealth to all of us. So he and my mother decided to give us education,” he recalled. “I saw my father go to work at 5am even when he was sick. That taught me responsibility. We may not have had brand-name clothes, but we wore them clean and ironed. We were taught pride and discipline.”
Azim believes firmly that emotional presence is just as important as physical presence.
“Regardless of what my schedule or her mother’s schedule was like, we had to equal that time to spend quality time with kids. Because I find that a lot of kids, their attention or focus may deviate—especially when they feel neglected emotionally.”
Because fatherhood is not just about providing materially but emotionally as well, for the future of your child. On this Father’s Day, Azim and many fathers in Guyana, and around the world, have that special day that reminds them of the joys of fatherhood.