By Chris Agbo
Abuja – The Deaf Women Association of Nigeria (DWAN) has once again taken center stage in advocating for the rights and improved healthcare services for deaf women across Nigeria. The call for action was made during the second National Deaf Women Summit, a landmark event held on Tuesday in Abuja. This year’s summit, themed “Empowering Deaf Women, Empowering Voices,” saw the gathering of deaf women from all corners of the country, united in their mission to champion their rights and amplify their voices.
The summit, a week-long series of activities, was supported by notable organizations such as Sightsavers, CBM Global, ActionAid, Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI), and the Office of the Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Department, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The event brought together stakeholders, advocates, and deaf women leaders to discuss pressing issues, share experiences, and strategize on ways to overcome the barriers faced by deaf women in Nigeria.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Helen Beyioku-Alase, the National President of DWAN, expressed deep appreciation to all stakeholders present. She emphasized that the theme of the event was a reflection of the commitment, confidence, strength, and leadership that deaf women in Nigeria have consistently demonstrated. Mrs. Beyioku-Alase underscored the importance of the summit, stating that it represented a collective passion and determination to ensure that every deaf woman in Nigeria has access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services.
“The summit is not just about empowerment,” Mrs. Beyioku-Alase said, “but about asserting our rights to be heard, especially in healthcare settings. Every deaf woman should have the right to speak and to be heard under the doctor-patient parameter. We need to break down the communication barriers that have long hindered our access to quality healthcare.”
One of the key advocacy points raised during the summit was the urgent need for the provision of sign language interpreters and visual aids in hospitals across the country. Mrs. Beyioku-Alase called for the development of digital healthcare tools tailored to the needs of deaf individuals, which would greatly enhance their ability to access and navigate healthcare services.
“It is high time that our laws and policies recognize the significant contributions of deaf women and girls, particularly in unpaid care work,” she continued. “Public policies must enforce the provision of accessible healthcare, ensuring that the rights of deaf women are upheld and that they can access quality healthcare without discrimination.”
While acknowledging the progress made in raising awareness of the rights of deaf women and their upward mobility nationwide, Mrs. Beyioku-Alase pointed out that significant barriers still exist. She called on deaf women to cultivate resilience, leadership, and advocacy, emphasizing that these qualities are crucial in ensuring that their voices are not only heard but respected and included in national conversations on key issues such as gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, leadership development, and strategic governance.
Adding his voice to the conversation, Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, the acting director of the Social Integration Department at the National Commission For Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD), commended DWAN for organizing the summit, which he described as a crucial platform for amplifying the voices of deaf women and girls. Mr. Idemudia highlighted the commission’s commitment to empowering persons with disabilities, noting that deaf women had been equipped with skills and businesses in various areas through the commission’s initiatives.
The summit also received a goodwill message from Beatrice Awala Mube, the disability desk officer in the Women Affairs Department of FCTA, who represented Hon. Dr. Adebayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Mandate Secretary of the Women Affairs Department. Mrs. Mube reiterated the Mandate Secretary’s commitment to improving the lives of women with disabilities. She revealed that, as part of the renewed hope initiative coordinated by the wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, over 5 percent of the program’s quota had been allocated to women with disabilities, including deaf women.
“Recently, under the renewed hope initiative, women with disabilities, including deaf women, benefited from an agricultural grant,” Mrs. Mube said. “This commitment is what informed our partnership with DWAN in this summit, providing the necessary support to make it successful.”
The summit’s opening ceremony featured several inspiring speeches, with one of the high points being the keynote address delivered by Barr. Fisayo Aransiola Fakayode, a human rights and law adviser with UNAIDS. Barr. Fakayode spoke passionately about the importance of self-advocacy, providing deaf women with practical tips on how they can use self-advocacy to assert their rights and privileges. She emphasized that once the communication barrier faced by deaf women is removed, there is no limit to what they can achieve.
“Intersectionality of disability and gender poses unique challenges for deaf women,” Barr. Fakayode noted. “It is not just about their disability; it is also about their gender. The challenges they face are compounded by these intersecting identities. However, through self-advocacy and collective action, deaf women can overcome these challenges and become whatever they aspire to be.”
Another keynote address was delivered by Barr. Catherine Edeh, the Executive Director of Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI) and a deaf woman herself. Barr. Edeh challenged deaf women to be more engaging and determined in their approach to life’s challenges. Drawing from her own experiences and those of other successful deaf women such as Helen Beyioku-Alase, Janet Fasakin, and Lucy Upah, Barr. Edeh illustrated how resilience and determination can lead to greatness despite the communication barriers that deaf women face.
The event also witnessed goodwill messages from Nigerian National Association of The Deaf (NNAD), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Federal Ministry Of Women Affairs, Federal Ministry Of Humanitarian Affairs And Poverty Alleviation, Among Others.
The summit, which is set to continue with various activities throughout the week, is not only aimed at inspiring deaf women to achieve greatness but also at empowering them to stand up for themselves and demand their rights in every aspect of their daily lives. The collective strength and resilience of these women serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusive policies and practices that ensure no one is left behind.
As the summit progresses, it is expected that the outcomes will lead to actionable steps towards better healthcare services, enhanced legal recognition, and greater inclusion for deaf women in Nigeria. The Deaf Women Association of Nigeria, through its tireless advocacy, continues to pave the way for a more inclusive society where deaf women can thrive and lead with confidence.
