A visually impaired freshman at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Ogunsua-Dixon Tijesuni, has shared her remarkable journey from battling a life-threatening brain tumour and permanent vision loss to emerging as Nigeria's best matriculating candidate in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Equal Opportunity Group for Persons with Disabilities.
Tijesuni, a 100-level Mass Communication student, recounted her story in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday, shortly after receiving recognition at the maiden Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Awards, where she was honoured alongside six other outstanding candidates admitted during the 2025 academic session.
The Ondo State-born undergraduate scored 288 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and recorded an aggregate score of 81.2 per cent to emerge as the highest-performing candidate in the disability category.
Recounting the challenges that shaped her journey, Tijesuni said she was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 11 while she was in Junior Secondary School 2, after experiencing persistent migraines and weakness in her left arm.
"I was diagnosed with a brain tumour at age 11. At that point, I had lost partial function of my left limb. My parents did not want to interrupt my education, so they asked me to wait until after secondary school before undergoing surgery," she said.
Her condition deteriorated during her final year of secondary school as she gradually began to lose her sight. Despite struggling to read examination questions, she completed both the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the UTME, scoring 225 with the ambition of studying Law at the University of Ibadan.
Shortly after the examination, she collapsed at home and was rushed for emergency medical attention.
"Doctors told us the tumour had been there for too long and that I needed immediate surgery," she recalled.
Tijesuni underwent brain surgery in January 2018 at the age of 16, by which time her eyesight had significantly deteriorated. She later spent three years undergoing rehabilitation in Ibadan before moving to the Blind Centre in Oshodi, Lagos, where she received training in mobility, independent living, hospitality and broadcasting.
Determined to continue her education, she returned to the classroom in 2025, rewrote both WASSCE and UTME, and secured admission into UNILAG.
According to her, medical experts believe there is still a possibility of restoring her sight, but the specialised neurological rehabilitation technology required is currently unavailable in Nigeria.
"My consultant said there is a chance for me to regain my sight, but unfortunately that technology is not available in Nigeria," she said.
Although she had always dreamed of becoming either a medical doctor or a lawyer, Tijesuni said her health challenges compelled her to reconsider her career path, leading her to study Mass Communication.
"I wanted to be a doctor and later a lawyer because I wanted to advocate for people. I had to adjust because of my condition, and I chose Communication," she explained.
She described losing her vision as one of the most difficult experiences of her life, admitting that she often longs for the ability to read independently again.
Despite the challenges, she praised UNILAG for creating an inclusive learning environment for students with disabilities.
"God bless UNILAG. There are ramps across the campus, and my lecturers and classmates have been very supportive whenever I need assistance," she said.
Tijesuni also commended JAMB's Equal Opportunity Group for ensuring candidates with disabilities have equal access to tertiary education through inclusive examination arrangements.
She noted that candidates were provided accommodation, transportation and assistive technologies such as laptops, Braille slates and typewriters, while each candidate was permitted to attend with a caregiver.
Expressing gratitude for the Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Award, she described the recognition as one of the defining moments of her academic journey.
"The day I confirmed I had been selected for the Rite scholarship was a huge surprise. I had never been honoured like that before," she said.
She, however, urged governments, private organisations and employers to expand opportunities for persons with disabilities, lamenting the limited employment prospects and inadequate welfare support available to them in Nigeria.
"There is little welfare support for persons living with disabilities, and many employers still assume we cannot contribute meaningfully. If given opportunities, people will see that there are many talented persons with disabilities who can excel," she said.
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