The last has not been heard of Dapo Adaralegbe; the first Nigerian
transgender who was born a boy, but has now transformed into a lady and
now referred to as Stephanie Rose. Dapo, who made history as the
first Nigerian to transform from male to female, recently released her
latest photographs looking completely fair in complexion. He was a law
student at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State
until he was expelled in 2001 from the school due to identity crisis.
After
the sad experience, he relocated to Netherlands as Dapo and later
underwent surgery to change his gender from male to female. Before he
left the country, Dapo granted an interview in which he spoke
extensively about his life as a trans-sexual, how he is a woman trapped
in a man’s body and his ordeal as a student of O.A.U.
He was
quoted to have said the following: “I was studying Law at the Obafemi
Awolowo University, (OAU), Ife. I am of the 1995 set, but I had to leave
school in 2001 because of pressures. People were too harsh on me; they
did not understand me at all.
When I was in school, the school
authorities got to know that I slept with my fellow male students.
There was also an incident when I had to be admitted in the hospital. I
was bleeding from the anus and I had bad pile arising from sexual
intercourse.
“When the school got to know the kind of person I
was, they sent me to meet a Guidance Counselor, Professor Roger
Makanjuola, who was the Vice Chancellor, who took care of me. You know
he is a renowned Psychiatrist. He handled all issues relating to
psychiatry with me.
He said I was okay and that nothing was wrong
with my preferences, sexual-wise. He said it was just because I lived
in an environment that did not tolerate that kind of behavior.
He
recommended that I should meet another Guidance Counselor but I did not
follow up. Even at that, there seems to be very little assistance one
can get medically in Nigeria.
“After a time, I tried going back
to school but they told me I have stayed too long away from the system. I
applied to change over to University of Lagos (UNILAG) and OAU
authorities promised to assist with my transcripts, but they did not
send it early, that was how I lost the chance of changing to UNILAG. I
eventually dropped out of school.”
In the report, he claimed
that he started having sex at the age of six, adding that his parents
failed to caution him when he was behaving as a girl at a tender age. “I
know this will shock you but I started having sex at the age of six. I
had this cousin of mine who used to bring his friend to our house. He
was the first to make love to me.
“Since I was small, I realized
that I had this feeling that I was a woman. I used to paint myself up
and wear girls’ clothes. Nobody stopped or cautioned me. My mother later
died when I was 11 years old. My father has other wives and no one
particularly bothered about me. I am the last child of my mother, she
had four of us,” Dapo reportedly said.
On his relationship with
men, Dapo expressed his intention to leave the country and go to where
he can find real love. In the report, he lamented that the men whom he
had affair with in Nigeria, were only interested in sex and do not want
to identify with him.
“I told you I started having sex at the
age of six, but no one in my family noticed the problem until I was 14
years old. My father is a Professor of Education. My mother was also a
Professor in the same discipline. When my dad got to know, I think he
was among the people who made Professor Makanjuola to examine me.
“The truth is that I had gone too far, and I don’t want to talk about my family in this issue.
I have slept with a lot of people but my problem is that they were not faithful to me.
They
were not committed; we just have sex and they go away. I wish to have a
committed partner that is why I have been trying to get a real lover,
one that will care about me.
In the alternative, I will like to relocate abroad where my kind exist.
In
the University, I had several lovers but they were not serious. I have
several men that I sleep with, I won’t mention their names. They cut
across the low and highly placed, just let’s leave it at that. What I
want is a committed partner. If I had a choice between getting cured and
going for a surgery that will change my sex to a woman, I will prefer
becoming a full woman.
“I am already a trans-sexual, the
difference between me and other homosexuals are that while they just
have the preference for sleeping with fellow men, I feel that I am a
woman; I feel that someone should be making love to me the way men do to
women. Since I started having sex, I am usually the female, the dormant
partner. But do you know that right now, I need two things; a lover
that is committed to me or help me to relocate out of this country,” he
reportedly said.
His dreams however became a reality years later
when Dapo found his way to Europe where he underwent a plastic surgery
that transformed him into a complete woman.
Nigerians react
Meanwhile
Nigerians and some of his colleagues in OAU have taken to the social
media to express anger, pity and love for Dapo ever since his recent
pictures surfaced on facebook. Although majority condemned his new
look, some accused his parents of having failed in their role while
others simply prayed that God will save his soul from extinction.
Blessing
This
is why they say train up a child the way he should go and when he is
old he will not depart from it. I read a story few days ago about a six
year old child in UK who now has been officially cleared to have
elective transgender surgery because he likes to play with dolls and
dress up as a girl. Somebody somewhere is definitely hell bent on
turning the world upside down for sure and freedom of choice is their
war cry. May God help us all.
Olakunle
I knew Dapo
in OAU Ile-ife and it was obvious he had so much going for him,
emotionally and academically. It’s easy for me and everyone to condemn
or criticize or pass all sort of comments but let’s not forget that we
don’t know Dapo’s deepest fear, pain and all he has been through and as
such we only should pray for him and not condemn him. If we all read
that story well, it’s clear that Dapo never really had much support
emotionally especially whilst growing up, the period that determines
how we would turn out as adults. It’s too late now to go back to being
male for Dapo, but thank God for God who is merciful and compassionate,
I can only pray to God to lead you back to him. I know how it feels
like to be emotionally unstable. I understand the impact it can have on
human thinking and outlook to life; you begin to seek a sense of
belonging in places and options you would normally not consider. I know
God will not forsake you, Dapo. So if you are reading this, know that
you were not born that way. The Bible says the Lord knew about you even
before you were conceived, he made you male for a reason but human
intervention has made you feel like a female,”
Steve
I
heard that some people claim that although they look like a man, but
their emotions and way of reasoning is that of a woman. I have done my
findings and discovered that it is a thing of the mind and demonic
domination as a result of idleness and generational curse. God never
made mistake about his creation but in this era of computer age, we are
turning things upside down. The devil is gradually getting a grip of the
world.
Take a look at the life style of some of these western
countries that we are imitating, they will tell you that you should not
shout or beat your child if he or she misbehaves. Everyone is lawless.
This is part of the reason why the world is getting to the brink of
destruction.
Eniola
While you were in Nigeria, we
attended an event in Jibowu sometime in 2008 where issues of sexuality
were being treated. You stood up that day and said homosexuality and sex
is as unique as Jesus Christ. What a blasphemy. I wept in my heart for
you because I knew you were a victim of child sexual abuse. In the whole
world both men and women have the tendency to cheat. You better remain
there, because we Nigerians will never tolerate your kind till the end
of the world. I pray for your soul.
Emmanuel
As
long as I am concerned, his father, the so called professor should be
held responsible. He should hide his face in shame and should not be
allowed to teach in any school. How can you call yourself a teacher when
your children are falling apart? Teachers are known to raise the best
kids in the world. He was busy with women and forgot his children. May
God judge him and other parents who are like the professor?
Cynthia
Nigerians should mind their business.
Most
of our influential men in the society are gay. Dapo followed his heart
and he is doing well. I know that one day, gay culture will be legal in
Nigeria. It is a matter of time. Dapo live your life and concentrate on
building yourself academically and financially.
When you become
rich, Nigerians will respect you. If you have a major science
breakthrough over there, Nigerian government will identify with you as
their son. This could help us resurrect the case again and probably win
it. Some of us in Nigeria will remain in the shadows till gay culture
becomes legal. Ignore your critics
Azeez
I hope
parents will learn from this story. Don’t be too busy to monitor your
children. If his mother was close enough to him, she would have
discovered that Dapo was defiled at the age of six. It was then that he
needed his parents most to explain that what happened to him, was a
taboo and should be forbidden. I guess that cousin kept doing it again
and again. I pray for his soul that God will deliver him from hell. What
is the fun of having your anus perforated in the name of sex? God
forbid.
Ade
Has anyone considered the role his
environment played on him? A lot of people have recounted how they knew
him in the past as someone who has identity crisis. Well, this is what
it has led to. For those talking about God making him a man, what about
hermaphrodites? I don’t know how he poses a threat to Nigeria when he is
isn’t a member of Boko Haram,
Nigeria has so many of Dapo’s in the country, they are in the shadows for fear of stigmatization.
Pricilla
Shame
on all of you who are condemning this child of God. What right do you
have to pass judgment on another human being? You all are not different
from Boko Haram.
I remember several times at school he was
beaten until he fell into coma. Judging from what has been written
here, those who knew him, the treatment he got was no different even at
home or anywhere he went. Do you think he is doing this on purpose?
I can only imagine the misery he has experienced in his life at the hands
of those who claim to act on behalf of God. The fact that he can find
peace and understanding in another man’s land speaks volumes about the
type of people we are.