By joshua CPI Executive Director to Govt, Schools, Employers: Inclusion for Deaf Nigerians Must Go Beyond Ramps, Become Daily Practice
Executive Director of Challenged Parenthood Initiative, CPI, Eunice Abimbola Agbogun, has called on government, schools, employers and communities to move beyond token gestures and genuinely protect, promote and recognise the human rights of deaf Nigerians.
Agbogun made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 3rd Edition of the North Central Association of the Deaf, NCAD, Zonal Conference. The conference held at NUJ Press Conference Hall, Lokoja, was themed “Protect, Promote and Recognise Deaf People’s Human Rights” and commemorated the International Week of the Deaf and International Day of Sign Languages.
“Today is more than a conference. It is a reminder that every human being deserves dignity, equal opportunity, respect, and the freedom to participate fully in society,” Agbogun said. “It is also a day for everyone present to accept the challenge to build communities where deaf persons are not merely accommodated, but genuinely included, valued, and empowered.”
Using the example of a deaf child arriving at school, she said exclusion begins when society fails to prepare to communicate. “She is present, yet excluded. Surrounded by people, yet alone. Not because she lacks intelligence or ability, but because society never prepared itself to communicate with her. Sadly, for many deaf persons, this is not imagination. It is reality.”
Agbogun argued that human rights are not special privileges or charity, but fundamental entitlements. “They begin when a deaf child enters a classroom and is able to understand the teacher. They begin when a deaf woman walks into a hospital and can communicate with healthcare providers without fear or confusion. They begin when a qualified deaf graduate is judged by competence rather than disability.”
She noted that for many deaf Nigerians, rights remain an aspiration. “Too many brilliant minds have been overlooked because society failed to communicate with them. Too many dreams have been delayed because accessibility was treated as an afterthought. The greatest barrier facing deaf persons is often not deafness itself. It is the barriers created by society – barriers of attitude, communication, policy, and infrastructure.”
Agbogun challenged participants with critical questions: “Are our schools truly inclusive? Are our courts accessible? Can deaf persons receive quality healthcare without communication barriers? Are workplaces prepared to embrace diversity? Do our public institutions recognise sign language as an essential tool for participation rather than an optional service?”
She urged government institutions to strengthen policies that guarantee accessibility, schools to invest in sign language education, and employers to “recognise ability before disability.” Civil society must keep advocating and holding duty-bearers accountable, families must encourage rather than overprotect, and communities must replace stereotypes with understanding.
“Inclusion is not achieved by building ramps alone. It is achieved by opening hearts, changing attitudes, and ensuring that every individual has a seat at the table where decisions are made,” she said.
Speaking directly to deaf participants, Agbogun said: “Your presence here is powerful. Your resilience is inspiring. Your advocacy is changing lives. Never allow anyone to define your worth by what they perceive as your limitations.”
She told the hearing community: “Inclusion is not about doing favours. It is about doing justice. The true measure of any society is not how it treats the majority but how it protects those who are often overlooked.”
Agbogun concluded that the conference must mark a renewed commitment “to protect, to promote, to recognise. Not just in words, but in policies. Not just in ceremonies, but in everyday practice. Not just today, but every day.”