By Oyeleke Bernice
Olufemi Ige graduated with a second class lower division from University of Ilorin. He is a chartered accountant. Before he left Nigeria for his masters program at Gallaudet University, he worked as a civil servant from state level to federal level.
Despite that Ige is only hard-of hearing (moderate hearing loss) and he can benefit from hearing aid, (albeit, not 100% auditory access), the acceptance of his hearing loss and acquisition of sign language contributed in no small measure to building up a healthy sense of self.
Meet Olufemi Ige, Master Student at Gallaudet University as he shares inspiring story to encourage others:
Hearing Loss Journey
It began when I was aged 8. It was not caused by sickness or any other illnesses, but caused by sand blockage caused by my teenage playmates (who supported each other against me due to tribal allegiance and loyalty) who poured sand in both ears when a fighting resulted from our play. I did not realize the enormity of what happened until years later when my parents made the discovery themselves. Efforts to restore my hearing loss proved abortive as there were not so much medical advances then as we have today.
Why I learned Sign Language:
Years after losing more than 40 decibels (dBs) of my hearing, communication became so much difficult among family members, school mates, teachers and neighbours. I felt much uneasy communicating with others especially because I couldn’t understand nor respond to what were being said to me and in conversations. This led me isolating myself into my own silent world for years until 2002 when I got admitted into University of Ilorin to study Economics.
Initially, driven by fear of communication challenges I anticipated facing, I was reluctant to go to university. But I knew there would be no future without an education. At the university of Ilorin, as fortune would have it, I met with the Deaf and hard of hearing students who already have an association. They identified me with the cord hearing aids I was using then, and I was encouraged to join the on-campus deaf association. I was elevated, elated and happy I was not alone in this lonely world of deafness and was encouraged by other deaf students in the school who have accepted their deafness as their identity and encourage me to learn sign language for ease of communication. I was taught and I learned it and accepted it as the only language of the Deaf by which I could relate and identify with both the Deaf and the hearing alike who know sign language.
Learning sign language has greatly helped me to break out of isolation and to identify with others who have the same-same experience both at home and abroad. It has helped me to build up my self confidence and has opened up doors of opportunities one of which is being awarded a scholarship to study for my Masters at Gallaudet University, a program I’m currently running.