By Sunday Ameh
A first-year student of the University of Lagos, Ogunsua-Dixon Tijesuni, has narrated how she overcame a brain tumour, blindness and years of rehabilitation to emerge as the highest-scoring candidate in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Equal Opportunity Group for Persons with Disabilities.
Tijesuni, an indigene of Ondo State and a Mass Communication undergraduate at UNILAG, scored 288 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and recorded an aggregate score of 81.2 per cent to top candidates in the disability category.
Recounting her ordeal, the undergraduate said her health challenges began at the age of 11 while she was in Junior Secondary School Two after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
She explained that the illness gradually affected the left side of her body, but her family delayed surgery until she completed secondary school to avoid disrupting her education.
According to her, her condition deteriorated during her final year in secondary school as she gradually lost her sight while preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
Despite the challenge, Tijesuni sat for the examination and later scored 225 in the UTME, hoping to study Law at the University of Ibadan.
She recalled that shortly after the examination, she collapsed at home and was rushed to hospital, where doctors advised that she undergo emergency surgery because the tumour had remained untreated for too long.
Tijesuni described the diagnosis as devastating, admitting she initially struggled to accept that she had a brain tumour.
Before her illness, she said she had been an active sportswoman, representing her school in basketball, football, badminton and swimming before her condition limited her participation.
She eventually underwent a major brain surgery in January 2018 before embarking on years of rehabilitation.
The undergraduate said she later enrolled at the Blind Centre in Oshodi, Lagos, where she acquired skills in mobility, independent living, hospitality and broadcasting.
Determined to continue her education, she rewrote her qualifying examinations in 2025 and secured admission into the University of Lagos.
Although medical experts have expressed optimism that her sight could be restored, she said the advanced neurological rehabilitation technology required for such treatment is not yet available in Nigeria.
Tijesuni disclosed that while she had once aspired to become a medical doctor and later considered studying Law, her circumstances influenced her decision to pursue Mass Communication.
She commended the University of Lagos for providing an inclusive learning environment for students living with disabilities and praised lecturers and fellow students for their support.
She also lauded JAMB’s Equal Opportunity Group for introducing inclusive examination arrangements that enable candidates with disabilities to write examinations under suitable conditions.
Tijesuni appealed to governments, corporate organisations and employers to create more opportunities for persons living with disabilities, stressing that they possess the skills and talents needed to contribute meaningfully to national development if given equal opportunities.
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