Catherine Edeh made history as Nigeria’s first deaf female lawyer, graduating from the University of Ilorin and Law School in Abuja. The challenges she faced growing up, including the struggles of being deaf in a society that didn’t fully understand the disability, led her to become an advocate for people with disabilities. Today, she is not just a lawyer but a powerful voice, leading efforts to make Nigeria a more inclusive place for people living with disabilities, especially women.
The initial struggle
Growing up deaf, Edeh’s parents initially hesitated about her education and struggled to find the proper support. So, she had to fight for her right to learn and prove her worth. Originally from the eastern part of Nigeria, she had to go to school in the western region (the University of Ilorin) as there were no schools in her area with the proper facilities for students with her kind of disability.
Determined to see herself through school, Edeh braided people’s hair to get by.
Founding the Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI)
Catherine Edeh had always been enraged at how society trampled on the rights of people with disabilities. After graduating and completing law school, she founded the Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI) to fight this.
The Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI) is a non-governmental, non-profit, and non-political organisation formed by and for Women, Girls, and Children with disabilities. It safeguards the rights of persons with disabilities to accommodate and provide for their social needs.
The organisation, founded in 2014, advocates for the rights of disabled individuals, with a special emphasis on empowering women. Through VDI, Catherine Edeh has worked tirelessly to address issues like education, healthcare, and social exclusion for people with disabilities in Nigeria. Her initiative has given many hope, providing support and a platform for disabled voices.
VDI core focus:
▪️ Fighting to influence the Implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibitions) Act 2018.
▪️ Creating public awareness of the provisions of the Disability Act across public and private sectors.
▪️ Supporting sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls with disabilities.
▪️ Promoting inclusive education in both public and private school
Through her advocacy, Catherine Edeh raises awareness and pushes for policies that ensure disabled people are included in every aspect of society. She is bent on changing the way Nigerians view disability by showing that people with disabilities are capable and deserve equal rights.
