…We’re Glad To Give Deaf Students A Platform To Bring Their Literary Abilities Alive- Oyeleke
A final year student of the Department of Special Education, University of Ibadan, Miss. Aanuoluwapo Omoleye has emerged with the overall best performance in the first National Literary Competition for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions tagged NLCD 2020.
The competition, put together by the Luminous Deaf Scholastic Initiative (LUDESI) for the first time in Nigeria was aimed at offering a platform for Deaf youth to express their literary abilities towards advancing Deaf community in Nigeria.
Founder of LUDESI and Convener of NLCD2020, Mrs Bernice Oyeleke, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to God for the inspiration to birth the novel and noble programme for the benefit of mankind and Deaf community in Nigeria and abroad.
She expressed optimism that the programme will add to the beauty and diversity of the Nigerian Deaf community.
According to her, the vision for NLCD2020 was conceived with the objective of tapping into the literary potential of Deaf youths in Nigeria and offer them a platform for them to express their literary abilities towards advancing Deaf community in Nigeria.
She said NLCD2020 began with recruitment of interested contestants in July 2020, adding that no fewer than 30 contestants registered for the competition.
After the conclusion of the first stage which was online submission carried out in the month of August 2020, Oyeleke said 10 contestants emerged for the final stage.
The final stage, she said was held as a physical competition and in commemoration of International Sign Language Day (ISLD) on Wednesday 23rd September, 2020 with the theme ‘Sign Languages are for everyone.’
Explaining the process the competition took, she said the contestants participated in three competitive literary tasks at both the first and final stages with tasks including Essay writing, Poetry writing and Speech Delivery in Nigerian Sign language (Sign language presentation).
Speaking with Inclusive News Network (INN) Oyeleke shared her experience organizing the first national literary competition for deaf and hard of hearing students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
“It was passion that brought the vision into existence and I was hopeful it would end in success. However, through it all I was scared. I was scared students may not be convinced to register at first because we couldn’t name prize since we hadn’t gotten sponsors.
“I was scared I didn’t have enough experience to execute the project. I was scared should the project fails, it will be a public embarrassment. I was moderating the first stage of the competition which is virtual throughout the month of August, likewise, I was soliciting for support. I got many rejections that scared me so much.
“However, I tried my best to let my positive passion overcome the negative fears, and pushed harder. Nevertheless, eventually it ended in success to the glory of God,” she said.
She also thanked her husband for his support as well as some partners, invited guests and volunteers who supported to ensure the overall success of the competition.
I am so grateful to all invited guests who witnessed the programme, thanks for participating at the event.
“To the contestants who have been a part of me in these past two months, thank you for trusting LUDESI by registering for the contest. Thank you for making moderating the contest easier with your cooperation. I appreciate your appreciating my effort. Actually, I love the team spirit in the house and I learn from it. Thank you. I will miss you.
“To everyone who spurred me on towards the eventual success of NLCD2020, thank you,” Mrs Oyeleke said.
Miss Aanuoluwapo Omoleye
Speaking to INN, the overall best winner, Miss. Aanuoluwapo Omoleye who thanked the organisers for putting up such competition, said the experience was awesome from the first to the final stage, while attributing her victory to God as well as thorough research and confidence.
“It was an awesome experience even right from the first stage which was virtual. The host, Mrs Bernice Oyeleke did so amazingly and ensured everyone was comfortable.
“At the final stage, I met people. We were given great accommodation in an hotel, good food, free transportation and were made very comfortable. The main contest was good and was in 3 stages. Of course there was fear, heart beating and head turning. But I thank God for everything.
“I wrote both tasks as the spirit led and as for the speech presentation, I ensured I knew the first and last things to say as these were important for the audience.
“I believe others also had their own strong points and I’d say it was grace and luck. There is no one-way tip for success. What might lead one there might not lead another.
Giving some tips for winning, she said, “Proper research and confidence are key. Think before you write/speak. You can have a winning mentality but don’t be too overconfident of winning because if you don’t win, you won’t be too shattered.”
Aside Miss Omoyele, Miss. Aanuoluwapo Ogunrinu, a 300l Mathematics students of Federal College of Education (special) in affiliation to University of Ibadan also won the Best Essay Writing Medal, while Mr. Godwin Daniel, a 200 level Computer Science student of University of Ibadan won the Best Poetry Writing Medal.
Also Mr. Douglas Izuchukwu Ozoigboanugo won the Best Sign Language Presentation Medal.
Miss. Aanuoluwapo Omoleye was rewarded with a trophy and cash prize of N10,000 while the three medalists received a cash prize of N10,000 with their medals.