By Chris Agbo,
Deaf Women Association of Nigeria (DWAN) FCT on Saturday in Abuja organized their 7th Edition of Deaf Women Awareness Week and International Day for Persons with disabilities/end of year party with the theme “Not all disabilities is Visible”.
The Chairperson of DWAN, Hellen Beiyoku-Alase in her opening remark while thanking dignitaries at the event who found time to grace the occasion, said that “it is time to thank God for keeping us till the end of the year and every December is celebration for persons with disabilities (PWDs) because it is the month we are celebrating International Day for Persons with disabilities, it is another day for celebration and we thank God for the day”. She thanked Deaf women for their support and being together. It is a day for the deaf women to celebrate their success and also learn from the motivational speakers who have been invited to speak. She also thanked all those who have been supporting deaf women in one way or the other.
There were goodwill messages from Mrs. Adedoyin Beiyoke-Alase, (Mama Deaf), The National President, Deaf Women Association of Nigeria, Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, a director at National Commission for Persons with disabilities and ED, Centre for Deaf Inclusion), Mr. Afolayan, (Centre for Deaf Inclusion), Mr. Ephraim Omoreige, Chairman, Abuja Association of Deaf, Comrade Bumni, Ekaete Judith Umoh, The National President, Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities (JONAPWD), and Agbo Christian Obiora, The Executive Director, The Qualitative Magazine (TQM).
The event witnessed motivational speeches from Comrade Bumni who spoke about being intentional, Agbo Christian Obiora spoke about living a life of legacy, and Ekaete Umoh spoke about building self-content and following your passion.
There were dancing competitions and singing where the deaf showed that they can sing and dance.
In spite the hardship occasioned by COVID-19 and recession, DWAN upgraded their celebration from gardens where they use to have their end of year party to a Three Star Hotel.
SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT