Dr. Odutola Ayorinde Odusanya shares happy moments with students at Wesley School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, in Nigeria. Picture supplied.
Reporting from Nigeria
On Thursday, July 11, 2024, the entrepreneurship hall at the Federal College of Education (special) Oyo, (FCES) in Nigeria came alive as many converged to honor and celebrate the retirement after 34-year long meritorious service of the institution’s first Deaf lecturer.
Dr. Odutola Ayorinde Odusanya, fondly known as Oloye Amuludun was the Chief Lecturer in the school of education (department of curriculum and instructions). He was employed by the college since the early 90s, first in mandatory fulfilment of the national youth service call, later as a full-time lecturer. At the time, the college had only 15 Deaf students enrolled. Currently, FCES has the largest concentration of individuals with disabilities in any Nigerian institution of higher learning, with Deaf students – numbering over 700 topping the list.
Dr. Odusanya obtained a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (1985), and a Master of Science in Special Educational Technology in 1987, both from the world’s only liberal arts university for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, Gallaudet University, Washington D.C. in United States of America.
After working up his way to the post of Chief Lecturer in 2010 at Federal College of Education (special), Oyo, he pursued and earned a doctorate in educational technology in 2014 from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Not only was he a lecturer, but he is the founder and chairman of Tola Odusanya Life Advancement (T.O.L.A) Foundation - a not-for-profit organisation that provides Deaf people and later deafened adults with language, social, academic and trade skills to live a meaningful and dignified life devoid of harmful stereotypes.
As a Deaf academic, he brings a number of firsts to the terrain in Nigeria. He is the first Deaf person to attain the post of Senior Lecturer in a Nigerian College of Education, first Deaf principal lecturer in all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, first Deaf Head of Department in four terms in a Nigerian higher institution. He was until retirement, Director of the college’s Center for Educational Technology. A two-time President of the Nigeria National Association of the Deaf amongst other key positions in the Nigerian Deaf community, Dr. Odusanya, the author of more than five books has over 25 awards from national and international bodies.
As a former lecturer, founder of T.O.L.A Foundation and activist, he fought a number, of one-man battles. He challenged stereotypes, called out discrimination against the Deaf and relentlessly championed their rights.
That activism has paved the way for the blooming of other Deaf academic staff of the college who came after him. He is thus a recognised trailblazer in the college’s history.
His farewell gathering drew the entire college community, friends, family and other well-wishers. The occasion was tripartite – retirement celebration, birthday anniversary and launching of a festschrift in honor of the retiree. More than anything, his vivacious self will be sorely missed in the college community. He leaves legacies of inimitable humor, philanthropy, students’ welfarism, and deaf rights activism.
On the occasion, top management, senior academics, and colleagues went down the years reliving fond memories of the now mellow godfather. Among these memories were mentions of the early years characterised by a rambunctious fighting spirit in him. Again and again, the references centered on his unending sense of humor, a knack for pushing others to aim higher, and a mentorship and philanthropy that impacted many.
The goodwill messages poured in from the college management, chief lecturers’ forum, the school of education, and various associations of the college community to a man who had made his mark in the sands of time.
An audience delight to the core, his former students (among whom he is known as “Edutola” for his pedagogical prowess in education courses) still recall with cherish memories of his lively classroom days. They erected a set of concrete benches for relaxation at the school of education complex in honor of him.
In a festschrift published by the Deaf Teachers Association of Nigeria this month (July 2024) in honour of Dr. Odusanya, Provost of the college, Dr. Rauf Salami, described him as remarkable and a trailblazer in the field of special educational technology. He defined him a seasoned curriculum instruction and educational technology lecturer who is well tutored in the nitty-gritty of the subjects.
Dr. Salami penned,
Deaf and proud, Dr. Odutola Ayorinde Odusanya addressing the audience at Wesley School in Sign Language in Nigeria. Picture supplied.
Alhaji Suleiman Dagbo, one of Dr. Odusanya’s former students, now a senior lecturer in the college, while speaking at the event highlighted his jovial side: “You cannot leave Dr. Odusanya without a smile on your face.”
“I had the opportunity of being taught by Dr Tola Odusanya in my twenties, mentored by [him] in my thirties as a big boss and blessed by [him] in marriage to one of [his] daughters,” said former student Olufemi Samson.
Deaf former student at the college, Bukola Fakunle said, “He is a nice man, friendly and jovial.”
Capturing the breadth of Dr. Odusanya in a moving Facebook tribute, a close protégé and now lecturer at the college, Damilare Olakulehin inscribed:
Olakulehin continued: “Your love and passion for the Deaf community is second to none…always the number one cheerleader for every newbie in the community, you never rest until you see us established and living meaningful lives. You always give yourself and resources to this [cause] even when it is unappreciated – that is you, Dr. Tola [Dr. Odusanya].”
Dr.Odusanya may have ended 35 chapters of an illustrious teaching career at the Federal College of education (Special), but his legacies linger – inspiring and nudging on generations students, staff, and colleagues. He has a guaranteed place as the pioneer Deaf academic and change-maker in the annals of the institution.
