There is on-going plan for the take-off in 2018/2019 academic year for special university for the Deaf. The university when completed will cater for the learning of students with hearing disability and they will be taught in Sign language.
Sir, Demola Aladekomo Chairman Board of trustees Wesley University Nigeria is the brain behind the establishment of special University for the Deaf which is located at Sagamu in Ogun state South West Nigeria. He also doubles as the Chairman of Smartcity Board of Directors as he has identified the need to cater for the interest of over 10-million deaf citizens whose impairment in hearing must have stopped them from aspiring to realize their potentials in accessing higher education from tertiary institutions.
While paying courtesy visit to Ogun state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the Wesley University Nigeria Board of Trustees Chairman said that the university for the Deaf will be set-up by Wesley University Ondo state Nigeria and that it will be affiliated to the Gallaudet University Washington D.C a similar specialized university for the Deaf established by the United States of America Government –USA in 1864. Among the team of academics that visited the Ogun state Governor were the Dean of School of Education, Business and Human Services of Gallaudet University Washington D.C USA, Dr. Khadijat Rashid who admitted that the special University for the Deaf will offer equal opportunity for people living with disability to learn and aspire to gain professional competence like normal citizens. She said that currently Gallaudet University USA admits over 2000 students who are being taught by Professors, teachers and instructors who are teaching the students using educational Technology in Sign Language.
For her, the USA university for the Deaf began by teaching deaf students from elementary to University level as Wesley University Ondo , Ondo State South West Nigeria is owned and operated by the Methodist Church of Nigeria. When it finally takes off this year, it will be the first university for the Deaf in Nigeria and will be attracted to many Nigerian Youths with hearing impairment.
The current Governor of Nassarawa state North Central Nigeria Umaru Tanko Al-Makura is living with hearing impairment which he is managing with hearing device always fixed in his two ears as he has near perfect speech elocution aided with advanced hearing technology device. He lost hearing after he suffered attack of Lassa fever in his adult life after graduating from Ahmadu Bello University- ABU Zaria, Kaduna Kaduna state Nigeria.