By Yahaya Yusuf Kumo
The Deaf women Association of Nigeria Northeast Zone under the leadership of Northeast Zonal Coordinator Miyausa Wayuta Mshelia rallied in Bauchi Yesterday 24th October, 2023 to demand full recognition of their rights, equal Access and opportunities in the society.
The rally walks which started from Development Exchange Center GRA Bauchi to Bauchi Emir's place was lead by the Northeast Zonal Coordinator,Miyausa Wayuta Mshelia, Disability Unit Desk Officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp Bauchi Mr Isa Zubairu and his fellow security operatives including some members of Nigerian Red Cross Society.
While Honouring and Addressing the Emir HRH, Alh Dr. Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu, The Zonal Coordinator said the group came to seek blessing from the Royal Father. That the group is organizing their Zonal Conference which include Rally, opening ceremony and Annual General meeting to demand equal access and Opportunities for Northeast Deaf women in all walk of life.
"We came from Different Northeast States to seek your blessing and support Your Royal Highness, because we can not do without our Royal Father, that's why your place is the first place we came to carry our advocacy message of demanding our full rights, equal access and Opportunities for our members in all walk of life.
Indeed we are aware our royal fathers are influential in their responsibilities and can help us in influencing the society and the government to give us our full Rights,equal access and opportunities that we're advocating for"
Its unfortunate that Deaf women especially in the Northeast Zone affected by insecurity and insurgency are left behind, in education, information and communication, economic empowerment etc which makes them more dependent and multiple their disability.
Its only when they are empowered, given education and carried behind they can be able to contribute to their growth, their families and the society in general otherwise they will remain dependent on others for surviving which is not encouraging.
Miyausa decries that even in health sectors Deaf women face many challenges. hospitals across the Northeast from lack of information and communication barriers, lack of access and sign language interpreters to facilitate communication between the Deaf and the Doctors even during pregnancy, lack of concerns and attitude of some health workers toward the Deaf among other are the biggest challenges facing Deaf women which we had been advocating and hope the authorities concerned will do the needful
Our correspond however gathered that hospitals across the Northeast,Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe already employed two sign language interpreters to facilitate communication at the hospital.
On area of education, she laments that 6 out of 10 Deaf girls are left out of school and without education they become multiple disabled because without the certificate the government and private sectors can not employ them there by rendering them helpless and dependents in case they are not empowered or employed for self reliance.
She added that in Nigeria we already have a law that gave persons with disabilities the right to have 5% of employment opportunity in government and private sector and without education and certificate the Deaf women will likely miss such opportunities.
She said there is need for the society, parents and the government to keep encouraging Deaf women education and enrollment for a better future and urge the Bauchi state government to fully implement the existing laws of Discrimination Against PWDs prohibition Act.
We urge the society, parents and the government to please encourage Deaf women education, empower and employ them for self reliance to avoid depending on others for survival which is not encouraging and have a negative consequence on their well-being as some people can take advantage of them while some may engage in negative societal vices for survival which is not encouraging.
We implore our influential Royal Father to please help us in this advocacy to talk to our leaders to the needful while we will not relent our efforts in carrying the advocacy to the authorities concerned to do the needful.
On her part, the chairperson of Bauchi State Chapter of the Nigerian Deaf women Association Ms Tabawa Garba emphasized more on what the Northeast Zone Coordinator said and while appreciating the Emir for been always listening and supportive to the Deaf and persons with disabilities, she prays he will help to see their demand is implemented.
In response, the Emir of Bauchi Alh Dr. Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu who was represented by Sallaman Bauchi, Alh. Adamu Musa said on behalf of His Royal Highness Alh Dr. Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu, The Emir of Bauchi and the entire Bauchi emirate council, " we warmly welcome you to our dear state bauchi and thank you for choosing Bauchi as place to carry your advocacy. This is commendable.
I really feel elated seeing you coming together from different Northeast states to organize your conference here in Bauchi State and carry your advocacy. This indicate your capacity and unity in diversity and I urge you to keep it up.
He assured the group that he will pass the message and their demands to the Emir and assured the Emir will by the grace of God do the needful to see their demand is implemented.
He however request a written documents of their demands which the Northeast Zonal Coordinator Miyausa Wayuta handed to him.
Lastly he prayed for their safety journey back to their respective states and destinations.
More pictures from the rally
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