Deaf-in-Tech, an initiative of Data-Lead Africa, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA) to start a Professional Master’s Degree Programme in Disability Studies.
A statement by the project on Friday said the programme aims at promoting inclusive education in Nigeria,
The MoU was signed at Deaf-in-Tech’s headquarters in Abuja and was led by Prof. Adaka Terfa Ahon, Director of the Centre for Disability Studies.
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Ahon delivered a goodwill message on behalf of the university. Prof. Adaka conveyed the Vice Chancellor’s full support.
He said, “On behalf of Prof. Shehu Abdul Rahman, Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Lafia, I wish to express our deep appreciation for this partnership. Under his leadership, the university has remained committed to placing issues of disability and inclusion at the forefront of academic innovation and institutional planning.”
According to him, the Professional Master’s programme will combine hybrid learning with physical sessions hosted at Deaf-in-Tech’s training facility in Abuja.
He said that the collaborative academic pathway is designed to build cross-sectoral expertise in disability-inclusive governance, education, and development.
Speaking, the Executive Director of Deaf-in-Tech and Co-Founder of Data-Lead Africa, Dr. Arowolo Ayoola also highlighted the strategic importance of this collaboration:
He said, “This partnership is more than just an academic exercise. It represents a structural shift in how we prepare institutions, professionals, and policymakers to engage with disability issues. The inclusion journey must begin with knowledge, and we are proud to partner with a progressive university like FULAFIA to offer this. We are also investing in young Deaf talents, rewarding academic excellence, and building sustainable infrastructure to support inclusive innovation.”
In addition to the postgraduate degree programme, the partnership between Deaf-in-Tech and the Federal University of Lafia spans multiple layers of strategic collaboration.
At the heart of the alliance is the establishment of a Deaf-in-Tech Club on campus, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at empowering Deaf students with cutting-edge technology skills, mentorship, and innovation capacity.
The club will operate under the Centre for Disability Studies, with technical mentors drawn from both the university and industry, creating a pipeline for inclusive tech talent.
The partnership further includes a merit-based academic excellence incentive, whereby any Deaf student graduating with a First Class in any discipline will receive a ₦1,000,000 reward. This underscores a shared belief in recognizing and celebrating excellence among students with disabilities.
Deaf-in-Tech will also support the Centre for Disability Studies in developing a disability-accessible website and a digital database to improve visibility, planning, and service delivery for students and staff with disabilities.
