A look back at thirty and five years of illustrious academic career and the marks made by one man.
On Thursday, July 11, 2024, at the entrepreneurship hall of The Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, the entire college community, including friends, family and well-wishers converged in honor of Dr. Odutola Ayorinde Odusanya (aka Oloye Amuludun) – the institution’s frontline deaf academic staff and symbol of deaf rights activism.
The occasion was tripartite – retirement celebration, birthday anniversary and launching of a festschrift in honor of the retiree. Thirty-five long years of meritorious service had finally come to a close and it was time to bid the bon vivant, jolly good fellow a deserved farewell. More than anything, his vivacious self will be sorely missed in the college community. He leaves legacies of inimitable humor, philanthropy, students’ welfare, and deaf rights activism.
Amuludun, as he is fondly called, has been in the college’s employ since the early 90s, first in mandatory fulfillment of the national youth service call, then as a full-time academic.
As first Deaf academic staff of the college, Amuludun fought a number of one-man battles. He challenged stereotypes, called out discrimination against the deaf and relentlessly championed deaf rights. He brought his unique brand of deaf rights activism from years of exposure at Gallaudet University (the world’s only liberal arts university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students) in the United States. That activism has paved the way for the blooming of other deaf academic staff of the college who came after him. He is thus a recognized trailblazer in the college’s history.
On the occasion, top management, senior academics, and colleagues went down the years reliving fond memories of the now mellow godfather. Among these memories were mentions of the early years characterized by a rambunctious fighting spirit in the man. Again and again, the references centered on his unending sense of humor, a knack for pushing others to aim higher, and a mentorship and philanthropy that impacted many.
The goodwill messages poured in from the college management, chief lecturers’ forum, the school of education, and various associations of the college community to a man who had made his mark in the sands of time.
Amuludun, until his retirement, was in the school of Education (department of Curriculum and Instruction). He had worked up his way to the post of chief lecturer in 2010.
An audience delight to the core, his former students (among whom he is known as “Edutola” for his pedagogical prowess in education courses) still recall with cherish memories of his lively classroom days. They erected a set of concrete benches for relaxation at the school of education complex in honor of the man.
The godfather may have ended 35 chapters of an illustrious teaching career at the Federal College of Education (Special), but his legacies linger – inspiring and nudging generations of students, staff, and colleagues. He has a guaranteed place as the pioneer Deaf academic and change-maker in the annals of the institution.