Dayyabu Azare
Bauchi undergraduate counts ear defect a blessing. Dayyabu Azare, a student at Aminu Saleh College of Education in Azare, Bauchi State, tells TEMITOPE ADETUNJI how he lost his hearing abilities due to meningitis and why he does not regard his condition as a constraint.
Were you born with a hearing loss?
Dayyabu Azare is my name. I am from Azare in Bauchi State’s Katagum Local Government Area. I am a practicing Muslim. I am 26 years old and did not inherit a hearing issue. I lost my hearing function at the age of 13 after suffering meningitis in 2010. Meningitis is an infection-induced inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes. So, meningitis rendered me entirely deaf, and life has been difficult.
It all started in the late hours of the night. I was down with a fever, so my parents took me to a hospital. It took almost a week before I recovered, but the doctor discovered that I could not hear. After being discharged from the hospital, severe earaches left me crying daily over the unbearable pain in my ears. My parents took me to the hospital for a medical checkup and my ear canals were washed by the doctor several times.
Did your parents try anything else to find a solution?
We went to herbalists a lot, and I was given a lot of medicine and other things I can’t remember. It’s been precisely 13 years since I lost my hearing, and it’s been quite an adventure discovering myself in the deaf world. However, I discovered nothing but a blessing since, despite my hearing loss, I could read and write English. Although I am fluent in my original language (Hausa), learning English was not tough for me. I am healthy, and I am proud of being deaf. It was a major, life-changing phenomenon in my life.
How do you deal with the difficulties that come with the condition?
I’ve never been teased for my hearing loss, but several of my colleagues who have the same illness have. My counsel to individuals who insult others for their hearing loss is to recognize that hearing loss is not a curse, but rather a fate. Anyone, at any time, can be affected. You, your child, mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, nephew, relative, or neighbor might be this person. In order to properly communicate with their deaf children, parents should also learn regular sign language. It’s discouraging that some parents are unwilling to learn sign language or communicate with their deaf children. They let them grow with their local sign language, which is not encouraging.
Therefore, parents and societies need to understand deaf people; they should kindly support them, and motivate them. Believe me, they (deaf people) will be successful, if not very successful in the end, and contribute positively towards the development of their society. They need support against any form of discrimination, be it in the family, community, or society.
Have you ever been in a relationship?
No, I have never been in a relationship.
What do you think is the perception of people with a hearing disability about life?
I haven’t been in a relationship because I want to focus on my education for now. Life means different things to different people, depending on their unique experiences, cultural backgrounds, personal beliefs, and outlook. Deaf individuals, like anyone else, have diverse perceptions about life. However, my perception of life is that no one is perfect. Each day is often shaped by the unique challenges and opportunities associated with being deaf. Many deaf people have a strong sense of identity and culture within the deaf community, and they may view life as a journey with its own set of experiences and triumphs. Communication and accessibility are crucial factors that can influence their perception of life, as they may face both barriers and strengths related to deafness. It’s important to recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all perception among deaf individuals, as their perspectives are as varied as those of individuals who can hear.
What factors have contributed to your social confidence?
When I am discriminated against or see that I am excluded, I often feel horrible. I always believe that this life is full of ups and downs, but I always try to be at the top, no matter how hard it is. At the moment, I need a motorcycle and some carpentry equipment. I need a motorcycle because I want to use it to reduce the burden associated with going to school with a bicycle. I also need carpentry equipment that will help me boost my work.