A 26-year-old graduate, Mr Yusuf Yahaya, has said his four years in the university without a sign language interpreter, as a deaf student, were the most challenging period of his life.
Yahaya, a graduate of political science from Gombe State University, said this through an interpreter in an interview with newsmen on Saturday in Gombe.
He said the society had not been fair to persons with disabilities, especially students like himself.
He said he was the only deaf student in his class and his biggest challenge was not having an interpreter in spite of his effort at getting the school management to employ one.
“Lack of interpreter is a big problem for the deaf and only God knows how I felt, not to be heard or given the opportunity to effectively contribute my ideas for four years in the university,” he said.
He said he had to study on his own, rely on friends to compile his notes, make researches on the internet and do his best to ensure that he was not left behind.
Yahaya, who graduated with a second class lower degree said his determination to become a graduate made him to push harder until he graduated in 2018.
He said not having a sign language interpreter made it “extremely difficult” for him to effectively participate in class.
This, he said, affected his performance, and that he would have done better with an interpreter.
“I missed classes and even tests because of lack of interpreters to relate the lecturers’ messages appropriately.
“Well, I gave my best and I graduated with a second class lower,” he said smiling.
Yahaya, while pleading on behalf of persons with Disabilities in his local council, Akko, said without interpreters in schools it would be challenging for them to access education.
“Our representatives should establish special schools for younger ones to get education because it is very difficult to go through a normal school with no interpreters.