By Chukwunyere Nwosu (INN) Abuja
The Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) in collaboration with Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG) held one-day sensitization program for Deaf Women in Abuja on voter education, data collection and mapping in various locations in the FCT.
The event was organised on 1st December, 2022, with support from US Embassy Abuja under Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
The Executive Director of DWAI, Mrs. Helen Beyioku-Alase in her address stated that the sensitization program aims to spread awareness that Deaf can vote and also to enable Deaf women participate in the ongoing political and electoral process in Nigeria in view of upcoming 2023 general election to ensure credible leaders emerge.
According to Ms. Alase, there are only about 1,000 deaf women who registered for the election out of 10 million deaf people in Nigeria which is very low and the cause is attributed to communication barriers between INEC officers and the Deaf Community.
She further said that many deaf women did not even know where to register during the PVC registration, some believed they would be denied priority in polling units or kept in the queue, while others are afraid to come out for fear of violence due to lack of communication.
She said asking questions to know how to thumbprint, where to be accredited before voting are some of the reasons hindering the deaf community to come out and vote in masses.
She commended the media for their efforts in amplifying their voices and pleaded with them to ensure that the message gets to relevant authorities, so that the Deaf Community can fully participate in the electoral process, vote and be voted for on equal basis as other eligible citizens.
She said the sensitization will take place in 3 area councils of AMAC, Kuje and Bwari in Abuja, and urged deaf women to come out in mass to vote for candidates or party of their choice and exercise their franchise to ensure their vote counts during election.
Facilitators, Josephine Emeghoghena and Abubakar Mumbu Idris during their presentations appreciated DWAI and AEIG for organizing such program and encouraged those who have PVCs to ensure they vote and those who registered for the INEC Voters registration but do not have the PVC yet, to get their PVCs, and for those who didn’t register then to register anytime INEC resumes for registration.
The Executive Director of Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG), Mrs. Abiodun Essiet in her remarks, appreciated Deaf Women for coming out in their numbers and encouraged them to fully participate in 2023 general election, vote for credible candidates and ensure their votes count.