Deaf women across the five South-East states have mounted a fresh demand for justice, equal rights and meaningful inclusion, calling on governments at the federal and state levels to dismantle the barriers restricting Deaf women and children from accessing education, healthcare, employment, political participation and essential public services.
The demand was made at the 2026 South-East Deaf Women Annual Conference held at Best Way Hotel, Owerri, under the theme, “Rising Together: Bridging Gaps for Deaf Women’s Rights, Justice and Inclusion.” The three-day conference, which began on Wednesday, August 5, brought together Deaf women and girls, government officials, education authorities, human rights advocates, development partners, security agencies, medical professionals and other stakeholders. The South-East Deaf Women Association said disability must never be allowed to determine who gets access to opportunities, dignity and justice. “Inclusion should not stop at consultations or policy statements. It must translate into representation, employment and participation in decisions that affect the lives of Deaf people,” the association said.
At the centre of the demands was the introduction of Nigerian Sign Language as a subject in public and private schools across the South-East, alongside the deployment of qualified Sign Language interpreters in hospitals, government agencies and other critical institutions. The association also called for Sign Language training for healthcare and frontline service workers, scholarships and specialised learning materials for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and deliberate policies to increase the representation of qualified Deaf women in government appointments and the public service. It warned that communication barriers continue to deny Deaf people effective access to healthcare, education, justice and government services, insisting that public institutions must adopt policies that allow them to access services independently and with dignity.
A major highlight of the conference was the launch of the “Deaf Children Back to School” initiative, designed to identify Deaf children who are out of school and support their return to education. The association said the programme was a practical intervention to ensure that “no Deaf child is left behind because of disability.” It also urged parents to prioritise early identification, education and support for Deaf children, while calling for stronger collaboration among governments, schools, parents, civil society organisations and development partners to tackle discrimination, inadequate funding, communication barriers and the shortage of specialised educational equipment. In her welcome address, South-East Zonal Women Leader, Mrs. Maria Chidimma Alufo-Ekpo, said empowering Deaf women and girls remained “an unfinished responsibility,” urging stakeholders to embrace collective action and uphold the principle of leaving no one behind.
The conference attracted representatives and officials from the Imo State Ministry of Education, World Health Organisation, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, NAPTIP, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Police Force and other human rights and development organisations. Among those who participated or were represented were Chief Ify Onyegbule, Director General of IBC; Dr. Samuelson Emehibe, Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Disability Matters; human rights advocate Justice C. Uhuegbu, Esq.; Mrs. Nwaijwe M.N.C., Desk Officer on Special Education; Mrs. Nwugo L.U., Senior Education Officer; and representatives of the Commissioner for Education and other education authorities. Dr. Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought and Visiting Professor at the Emerald Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt, delivered the keynote address through his representative, Mr. Nnamdi Umunnabuike. The conference ended with delegates renewing their commitment to advancing the rights, justice, dignity and full inclusion of Deaf women and children, stressing that education, healthcare, employment, leadership, justice and political participation must be treated as fundamental rights—not privileges determined by hearing ability.This headline is my preferred choice because it combines the rights demand with the concrete “Back to School” intervention, giving readers both the conflict and the news hook.
