Becoming the First Elected Female President of NADS was My Most Proudest Moment in Life ~ Queen Lawal Olamide Sukurat.

 

by Yusuf Mohammed Lawan Gombe 20th January, 2025

Lawal Olamide Sukurat, a 300 Level Deaf student of Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, has been nominated and presented with an outstanding leadership award as Emerging Leader of the Year. She got the nomination for her role in promoting peace as well as helping to make the NANDS a better hub for developments that will help improve the wellbeing of NADS community. In this interview with the Ability News Network (ANN) CEO, YUSUF MOHAMMED LAWAN, she shares some of the experiences of starting out as a female student who dare the odds to scale through and become the first democratically elected president of National Association  Deaf Students (NADS), a covet seat many believed is reserved exclusively for the the male gender due to their dominant role in the students unionism ganre. Excerpts.

ANN; Can you tell us about yourself?

Lawal Olamide Sukurat by name. A 300L NCE Deaf Student of Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo. I am the first-ever female elected and serving President of the National Association of Deaf Students (NADS SPED CHAPTER) and also the just sworn-in Assistant Secretary General of the National Association of  Deaf Students (NADS). I am also the first-ever Queen of the Ogun State Mr&Mrs Ovaruwa in Sagamu Remo Association of the Deaf (RAD)

ANN: Take us into the journey of your childhood experiences

  I became a Deaf at the age of 5 through sickness at my parents house. I attended hearing school and even later Deaf till one interpreter visited my school in Ogun and took me to a special school the name of the school was (school for Children with Special Needs) in Sagamu Ogun state where I met other Deafies and the name of person who took me to Deaf associations meetings was Mr Idowu Adekunle Moyosola, he is the first person to when i was a child, till now he is my honour person that encourages me to grow my ability and Mr Lasisi Adedayo Idowuhe also encourage me to participate for the Queen in Mr &Mrs Obaruwa starting from (RAD) Association, then South West Deaf Association. Through those associations, I participated in Mr/Mrs Obaruwa and won, that was how I became the Queen. I didn't stop there, I also participated in extracurricular activities after I entered FCES Oyo i served as representative to all the special areas of Deaf associations, served as a Treasurer, then Social Director and now President of Deaf Students Association in SPED under my former President Qoozim Oluwadamilare Erinosho. Now I am an Assistant Secretary General at national level of Nigeria Deaf Students Association.

ANN: Recently you emerged as the recipient of NANDS outstanding Leadership Award, how does it feel to be singled out for such coveted recognition?

 On being awarded as the emerging leader of the year was a shock to me and I feel honored and overwhelmed with joy and surprise. When they released the nomination form for casting vote for award categories for deserving people. Though I saw the category, I don't understand it, I even thought it is for executives and Senators only and to my surprise I was selected. I really appreciate them for the recognition of my leadership acumen

ANN: What does this award mean to you personally?

The award is an awesome one as it matches my leadership and personality as I was well recognized by it by the majority.

ANN: What precisely did you do to earn the award?

 Through building a good rapport, by actively participating in the association activities, discussions, dropping opinions, catching funs, and given gifts to them free etc. made them recognize me

ANN; What were your challenges during the period?

No challenge while acquiring the award just congratulatory words, and on me a troublemaker and a tireless Sister because they knew I deserved it

ANN: How was your relationship with the NANDS community?

 At first, I was a member, but I have a positive relationship with my fellow members that continued till now. We do argue but settle in short and move on. I encourage them positively, share experiences, keep them updated of information, etc. I am an easygoing person that welcomes people

ANN; How did you receive the news of your nomination for an Emerging Leader of the Year award?

 I received the award through our NANDS group online where I was complimented and tagged which drew my attention and surprised.

ANN: Where did you see yourself in the next five years as an Emerging Leader?

 I saw myself moving on with my leadership journey, impacting, training others to be leaders, contribute my quota to the community that helped me and as well participate in other leadership activities

ANN: What were your areas of strength and weakness as a person?

My area of weakness is being overburdened but still overcome the burden and learn from them making me more experience and stronger.

ANN: Coping with disability, how does it feel like?

I am a proud Deaf, though it is God's that created us, I am grateful for who I am because I am like an exception among other deafies

ANN; What's your most memorable and proudest moment in life? 

My memorable moment was while serving as Treasurer which gave me the opportunity to showcase my leadership prowess. My proudest moments are when I won as the reigning Queen of Obaruwa and also won as the first elected female president of NADS

I am a proud Deaf, though it is God's that created us, I am grateful for who I am because I am like an exception among other deafies

My memorable moment was while serving as Treasurer which gave me the opportunity to showcase my leadership prowess. My proudest moments are when I won as the reigning Queen of Obaruwa and also won as the first elected female president of NADS 

ANN: Any regret in life?

I don't have any regret.

ANN; How do you define GBV; did you experience any form of Gender Based Violence in campus?

Yes, I experienced GBV when I was aspiring to contest for presidency in NADS. Some people talk negatively that female can't lead, if the girl mistakenly get pregnant won't be a good example, etc

ANN; Any advice to the aspiring young Deaf Ladies?

My advice to aspiring young Deaf ladies interested in leadership is always to participate in voluntarism leadership to showcase their skills, never underestimate their ability, if I can they too can. Never listen to negativities. How I am able to stand till this moment is through positive encouragement from positive role models like my predecessor (Erinosho Qoozim Oluwadamilare) who laid the foundation of my leadership journey and encourage me to widen my horizon, Alhaji Dagbo for his mentorship and fatherly advice, and others too whom I worked with.

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