As the world marks the 2025 edition of International Deafblind Awareness Week, the Deafblind Inclusion and Advocacy Network Nigeria (DBIAN) has issued a passionate appeal for recognition, inclusion, and urgent action to support Nigerians living with dual sensory loss.
With countless deafblind Nigerians hidden away due to societal ignorance and lack of support, DBIAN posited that the national survey will identify and empower them, ensuring their rightful inclusion in policies, programs, and the fabric of the nation.
In a statement by its National President, Solomon Okelola, the organisation commemorated the global week of awareness by celebrating the resilience and determination of persons with deafblindness, while highlighting the challenges they continue to face across the country.
“Living without sight or hearing, let alone without both, is unimaginable for many. Yet, persons with deafblindness live, survive, and even thrive every day. Their strength is not just inspiring, it’s proof that disability is not inability,” Okelola stated.
He, however, lamented that deafblindness remains poorly understood and largely excluded from government policies and disability programmes in Nigeria. Despite their unique needs, persons with this dual disability are absent from the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018, as well as its domesticated versions across the states.
“Many state governments are not even aware of the existence of deafblindness as a distinct disability. Lagos remains the only state where we have managed to conduct a pilot survey,” the statement noted.
DBIAN also raised alarm over the rising invisibility of persons with deafblindness, warning that the continued neglect has led to cases of mental health breakdowns and even suicide. “We lost three of our members to suicide before we could reach them. We fear there are more we haven’t heard about—locked away, isolated, and forgotten,” Okelola disclosed.
To address this, the network announced plans to launch a national survey to identify and document cases of deafblindness across Nigeria. The objective, according to the group, is to build a national database that can guide policy inclusion, targeted support services, and access to assistive technology for persons with deafblindness.
DBIAN is seeking donor support and public collaboration, requesting members of the public to report known cases of individuals living with both vision and hearing loss, and to assist with donations to facilitate the nationwide initiative.
The group also invited Nigerians to participate in its virtual programmes for the Deafblind Awareness Week and follow its social media pages to learn more about living with the condition and the work of the network.
Special appreciation was extended to the Disability Rights Fund and Lionheart Ability Leaders International Foundation for their pioneering support, and to the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) for being the first African government agency to formally recognise deafblindness as a unique disability and to observe the Global Usher Syndrome Awareness Day.
“This year’s theme, DeafBlind, DeterminedBold: It’s About Creating an Inclusive World That Works for Everyone, reflects our hope—a world where persons with deafblindness are not just seen but supported, not just heard of but heard,” the statement concluded.
Bank donations to support the national survey can be made to:
Bank Name: United Bank for Africa (UBA)
Account Number: 1023022127
Account Name: Lionheart Ability Leaders International Foundation
Also follow the organization on social media accounts on Facebook, instagram and X.