The Women Wing of the Abuja Association of the Deaf has called on Deaf women to improve their productivity and embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to self-reliance, economic empowerment, and social inclusion.
The call was made on Tuesday in Abuja during the association’s celebration of the 2026 International Women’s Day, themed “Give To Gain.” The colourful event brought together Deaf women, disability advocates, development partners, and supporters of disability inclusion in an atmosphere filled with inspiration, motivation, and solidarity.
Speaking during the celebration, the Women Leader of the association, Mrs. Jumai Hosea, described International Women’s Day as a significant moment to recognize, appreciate, and celebrate the strength, resilience, achievements, and contributions of women across the world, particularly women with disabilities.
According to her, the occasion also serves as a reminder of the progress women have made over the years while highlighting the urgent need for continued advocacy towards equality, opportunity, dignity, and respect for all women, especially Deaf women who still face multiple barriers in society.
She encouraged members of the association not to underestimate their abilities, stressing that Deaf women possess enormous potential capable of transforming their lives and communities when properly harnessed.
“Today, we celebrate not only our achievements but also our unity, courage, and determination to build a better future for ourselves and generations yet unborn,” she stated.
Mrs. Hosea further urged Deaf women to remain focused, ambitious, and determined in pursuing greater achievements through continuous learning, collaboration, and empowerment initiatives. She noted that self-development and productivity remain critical tools for breaking dependency and poverty among women with disabilities.
The event also featured an educative session on the theme of the day delivered by an expert on women’s rights and mental health, who emphasized the importance of confidence-building, emotional well-being, and economic independence among women with disabilities.
In his remarks, one of the sponsors of the event, Mr. Sylvester Umezurike, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Yagazie Weng Umezurike Foundation for the Deaf, applauded the organizers for hosting what he described as a remarkable and historic event for the Deaf community in Nigeria.
He revealed that the foundation was established as a result of his personal experience as the father of a 13-year-old Deaf child. According to him, the challenges he encountered, particularly the lack of accessible and quality education for Deaf children, inspired him to establish the foundation and collaborate with Deaf associations and advocates to build a more inclusive society.
Umezurike noted that his journey exposed him to the numerous barriers confronting Deaf persons in Nigeria, including discrimination, communication challenges, and limited access to opportunities.
“That experience motivated me to work closely with Deaf people and relevant stakeholders to create a society that is more inclusive, supportive, and workable for Deaf persons,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the organizers for inviting him to support the event and assured the association of his continuous partnership whenever called upon.
The foundation boss also commended the resilience, determination, and courage of Deaf women, urging them not to relent in their advocacy efforts until an equitable and inclusive society is achieved for everyone regardless of disability status.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Technology Beyond Disability Initiative, Nnenna Ogbonna, described International Women’s Day as a celebration of the resilience, determination, achievements, and voices of women across different sectors of society.
She said the occasion serves as a clarion call for women to dream bigger, break barriers, and strive for excellence despite societal limitations.
Ogbonna emphasized that her organization remains committed to empowering women and girls with disabilities through technology, innovation, and digital inclusion initiatives aimed at improving their livelihoods and expanding opportunities in the tech ecosystem.
A major highlight of the celebration was an interactive session on “Business and Self-Reliance for Deaf Women in Entrepreneurship.” The session provided participants with practical insights into business development, financial independence, and entrepreneurial opportunities available for women with disabilities.
Participants actively engaged in discussions, shared experiences, and explored strategies for overcoming challenges associated with starting and sustaining businesses as Deaf women in Nigeria.
The event ended with renewed calls for stronger inclusion policies, economic empowerment programs, and greater societal support for women with disabilities to enable them contribute meaningfully to national development.
