In a significant move towards inclusive development, the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and ENT specialists, has launched a hearing support initiative targeting young Nigerians with hearing impairments.
The initiative, part of the WOFAN-ICON2 project, aims to identify and provide medical assistance, including hearing aids and counselling, to 1,200 individuals aged 18 to 35, to enhance their access to dignified employment opportunities, particularly within the agricultural sector.
Speaking at the official launch in Abuja, Country Project Director of WOFAN-ICON2, Dr. Salamatu Garba, underscored the social exclusion faced by people with hearing loss. “When disability is discussed, focus often centres on physical impairments, while hearing-impaired individuals are left to battle communication barriers and societal stigma,” she noted.
Dr. Garba clarified that the initiative is not just about distributing hearing aids but also involves thorough medical screening by ENT experts to determine the right support. “Some may need simple procedures like wax removal, while others genuinely require hearing devices. Accurate diagnosis is essential before intervention,” she said.
Business Development Manager at WOFAN, Mr. Taiwo Olawale, disclosed that the pilot phase will begin with the screening of 60 individuals in the North Central region before scaling to other zones, including the North-East and North-West, covering states like Adamawa, Kano, and the FCT.
WOFAN’s Gender Specialist and FCT Lead, Hajia Maryam Lawal, emphasised the need to include hearing-impaired youths in agricultural development, noting that disability inclusion is key to achieving national food security goals.
“Imagine a deaf farmer being excluded from training sessions or safety briefings. Their productivity and ability to contribute to food security are compromised. That’s why we’re targeting this group,” she said.
ENT consultant Dr. Bassey Adem from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital described hearing loss as a pressing but underfunded public health issue. He commended the partnership, noting that many affected individuals cannot afford hearing aids, which can cost hundreds of thousands of naira.
“This programme restores not just hearing, but dignity and opportunity,” Dr. Adem said.
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Also lending support, Professor Abdulazeez Ahmed of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Dr. Manir Anka praised the initiative for spotlighting a “hidden disability.”
“Hearing loss is invisible. Unless someone speaks, you might not realise they are deaf. That’s why public education and awareness are essential to end stigma and foster inclusion,” Prof. Ahmed said.
He called on other organisations to replicate WOFAN’s inclusive model and urged for broader collaboration in addressing disability-related challenges.
“This is not solely the government’s duty. All of society must play a role in uplifting persons with disabilities,” he stated.
As the programme advances across the nine focus states of the WOFAN-ICON2 project, it aims to set a national standard for disability inclusion, merging medical intervention, public awareness, and economic empowerment to ensure no one is left behind.