“Music Became My Healing”: How OGITECH Student Defied Vision Loss to Pursue Education, Passion

Igbesa, Ogun State — Adeosun Ayomide Oluwaseun was a vibrant 10-year-old with dreams of becoming a soldier when a tragic accident on a Sunday afternoon in November 2016 changed his life forever.

The National Diploma 2 student in the Department of Mass Communication at Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH), Igbesa, lost his right eye in an unusual accident that occurred while trying to repair a faulty door at his family home in Papalanto, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

In an exclusive interview, the now 20-year-old talented musician shared how he combines his creativity, determination, and instinct to navigate the world despite living with visual impairment.

After returning from his usual Sunday service at Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S), Orisun Iye Alaseyori church, young Oluwaseun noticed that their apartment’s entrance door was broken and decided to fix it with a nail and hammer.

“I discovered that our house door was faulty, and after the regular Sunday service, I decided to repair the door, but in the process of hitting the nail, it flew and hit my right eye,” he recalled.

What seemed like a minor incident at first turned tragic.

“My parents thought it was a minor issue, the eyes did not bleed, everything felt fine. I didn’t even feel pain until one week later while I was preparing for school. I closed my left eye and that was when I discovered that I couldn’t see anymore with the right eye,” Oluwaseun narrated.

His family rushed him to several hospitals seeking solutions, but the damage was irreversible. Doctors advised that the eye be removed to prevent damage to his brain.

“We started visiting hospitals, we even went to several churches because we were looking for support and the doctor said we had just three days to operate since it was already affecting my brain.

The doctor suggested that we get an artificial eye for N100,000 just so as not to disfigure my look, but we couldn’t afford it, there was no money,” he said in an emotion-laden voice.

When Oluwaseun gained admission to study Mass Communication at OGITECH, his first challenge wasn’t paying school fees or doing assignments. It was navigating the campus without parental guidance, something he had relied on at home.

He sometimes misses his steps and relies mainly on instinct to find his way around campus. School activities such as arranging files and other administrative duties became difficult, as his impairment often slowed him down.

“When I first got my admission, it was very difficult for me. Moving around inside the campus to submit files and do some documentation was a major challenge,” Oluwaseun explained.

“Sometimes I think and feel bad because I know that if my condition is good, I will be able to do some things, but I don’t relent. I know what I want to achieve, so I keep pushing and trying my best to become the best version of myself.”

He described the physical toll of managing student responsibilities with his disability.

“I stay in long queues while trying to arrange my files. I do them myself because if I send someone, I would keep doubting if it was done correctly. It’s stressful for me but I don’t have a choice. When I get home I can sleep for more than five hours because of the stress.”

After losing his eye, Oluwaseun decided to pursue one of his passions—music. He learnt to play the talking drum, but he quickly realised that without an education, his options would be limited.

“After I lost my right eye, I decided to learn how to play talking drum and started visiting various places, but I knew that without education, I can’t flow in those places. Without education I don’t think I can get to the top. It will be very difficult, a situation where I can’t speak or write well, so I need to pursue my education so it can help me in life,” he explained.

He explained that his healing process began with his involvement in education and music.

“Once I am playing my talking drum, I am always happy. It’s my joy and first wife, anytime I carry it to play I am filled with joy. Once I’m down and I lift up my drum I’m filled with joy.”

Oluwaseun, who was not born blind, became increasingly reliant on his left eye, which is not as sharp as the lost right eye. Dark sunglasses have become a staple of his wardrobe, not as a fashion statement, but as a means of avoiding stigma.

“I make use of dark shades while on campus, although it makes it hard for me to see. Sometimes I hit my foot over stones and fall down. It’s not recommended, but I use it to avoid having too many eyes on me. Once people notice that I have just one eye, they would just be looking at me plus the sun affects my eyes too,” he narrated.

He explained that while it is difficult for him to see clearly with dark shades, he endures it to avoid unwanted attention.

“It is difficult for me to see when I wear the dark glasses, but still I do it to avoid murmuring. It’s not easy for me to walk freely. I only use my recommended glasses during exam periods.”

Oluwaseun, an indigene of Ogun State, seeks intervention from the state government to ensure a conducive learning environment for people living with disabilities. He noted that most buildings, especially in academic environments, lack basic amenities for people with disabilities to navigate independently.

“I just hope the government can support me in my education, especially when it comes to paying my school fees. I would really love that,” he appealed.

The young man’s biggest regret remains his shattered dream of becoming a soldier. “I have always wanted to be a soldier, but when I lost my eye, I was told that I can’t be accepted because I’m disabled. So I relented,” he lamented.

Despite the challenges, Oluwaseun remains determined to complete his education and build a successful career combining his academic knowledge with his musical talent. His story serves as a testament to resilience and the power of pursuing one’s passion despite life-altering setbacks.