BEYOND SIGHT: THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF DABIRI SAMUEL OLUWASEGUN

 BEYOND SIGHT: THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF DABIRI SAMUEL OLUWASEGUN

By Goodness Olope 

At Obafemi Awolowo University, the legendary Great Ife, a campus revered across Africa for its intellectual rigour, architectural majesty, and unmatched spirit of excellence, thousands of students prepare each year to join a lineage of scholars, icons, and nation-shapers. Its vast courtyards, iconic structures, and deeply rooted traditions have nurtured generations of thinkers, activists, judges, diplomats, scientists, and artists whose influence stretches far beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Yet within this vibrant academic community, where brilliance is almost an expectation and resilience is woven into the institution’s history, one story rises quietly but powerfully above the familiar rhythm of convocation celebrations. It is the story of a young man whose journey reminds Great Ife, and the world, that true visibility has little to do with sight and everything to do with courage.

This is the remarkable path of Dabiri Samuel Oluwasegun, a graduate who not only survived the challenges of living with visual impairment but transformed his years on this celebrated campus into a testimony of purpose, perseverance, and the never-say-die spirit that defines Great Ife.

‎Samuel, born on Lagos Island to Mr. and Mrs. Dabiri, lost his vision at age six. Life, as he describes it, “happened suddenly.” 

One day he could see the world; the next, he was learning to navigate it differently. But sight was not the only thing he would lose. The separation of his parents, frequent relocations, and the harsh realities of disability in Nigeria shaped his childhood long before he understood the meaning of resilience.

In time, resilience became his signature.

‎A CHILDHOOD REBUILT THROUGH DETERMINATION 

‎Samuel attended Pacelli School for the Blind in Lagos, the institution where he first discovered that loss could also give birth to strength. From there, his education took him to Egbado College in Ogun State and later to the Federal College of Education, Oyo, where he studied Studies for Visual Impairment (SVI) and Political Science.

He also worked with Bethesda for the Blind, a Nigerian NGO that deepened his understanding of advocacy and community responsibility.

‎A NEW DREAM IN IFE

In 2018, Samuel secured admission into Obafemi Awolowo University to study International Relations. Arriving on the celebrated Great Ife campus, he walked guided by faith, memory, and technology into a vibrant community full of opportunities for growth and discovery.

Navigating lecture venues required creativity and determination. From finding the best ways to move between classes, to accessing learning materials and securing suitable seating, Samuel adapted and thrived, turning every challenge into a lesson in perseverance.

‎‎“People with special needs don’t need sympathy. We need empathy. Inclusion. Not to be treated like second-class citizens,” he said.

‎THE BREAKING POINT AND THE BREAKTHROUGH 

‎His darkest moment came in 200 Level, when his laptop crashed, his phone died, his recorder failed, stripping him of every academic tool he relied on. And, just when he thought nothing else could break, his relationship ended, leaving him so overwhelmed that he felt himself collapsing inward, on the brink of giving up.‎

‎‎For a moment, he felt like everything inside him was collapsing. He almost gave up.

‎But faith held him.

‎“God kept me going,” he said simply.

A VOICE FOR A COMMUNITY 

‎Instead of withdrawing, Samuel stepped forward, choosing advocacy.

Seeing how poorly students with disabilities were treated, not just at OAU but across society, he founded the Great Ife Physically Challenged Students Association of Nigeria. 

The association was the first-ever of its kind for students with special needs on campus. He served as its pioneer President for two years.

‎‎His leadership extended beyond advocacy:

His leadership soon grew far beyond advocacy, as he served for two years as Electoral Chairman of the All-Nigerian United Nations Students and Youth Association (ANUNSA), stood on the frontlines of drug abuse and suicide-prevention campaigns, and immersed himself in intellectual pursuits as a committed member of the Intellectual Property Law Club.

‎And somehow, in the midst of lecturing, organising, and advocating, he wrote poems, composed music, competed in handball, swimming, and athletics, and searched for the quiet moments that helped him reset.

‎THE GRADUATION THAT WAS DELAYED BUT NOT DENIED 

‎Samuel should have graduated with the Class of 2023, but a registration issue with a compulsory course delayed his clearance. Where many would have felt discouraged, he remained focused.

Now, in 2025, he finally walks the stage he earned long ago.

He graduates with a Second-Class Degree in International Relations.

But as he often says:

“This is just a milestone. I haven’t even started anything yet.”

‎THE ROAD AHEAD

‎Today, Samuel teaches in Ibadan, a humble chapter he describes as “where time has placed me for now,” a temporary pause in a journey still unfolding. But even as he stands before his students, he carries dreams that stretch far beyond the classroom. 

He envisions himself as a diplomat, serving with agencies such as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) or the World Health Organization (WHO), shaping policies, influencing lives, and proving that disability has never meant inability.

He hopes to pursue a Master’s degree, perhaps abroad, and continue the work that has defined his life’s purpose, fighting for the full inclusion of people living with disabilities, a cause he carries with the weight of experience and the fire of conviction.

And his message to institutions remains as firm as it is heartfelt:

“There must be total inclusion 

In teaching

In movement.

In transportation.

In accommodation.

In library access.

Even in scholarships.

We deserve full accessibility.”