Seadogs Take Literacy Campaign to Deaf Students, Donate Learning Materials in Kaduna
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pyrates Confraternity, Aurora Flotilla Deck, Kaduna Chapter, has taken its literacy advocacy campaign to the Demonstration School of the Deaf, Kawo, Kaduna, with a donation of teaching aids and learning and writing materials to support the education of deaf students.
The intervention was part of activities marking the 2026 International Literacy Day, celebrated on Tuesday, with the theme, “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity.”
The high point of the visit was the presentation of exercise books, writing materials and other teaching and learning aids to the school, aimed at improving the learning environment and supporting students in their academic activities.
Speaking during the event, a member of the Kaduna Chapter, Victor Chinyeaka, urged the students not to allow their hearing impairment to limit their aspirations, stressing that communication was not restricted to spoken words.
Chinyeaka said the students could “speak” through writing and sign language, urging them to see themselves as capable individuals who could become lawyers, doctors, engineers, architects, pilots and professionals in other fields.
According to him, literacy gives people the ability to communicate, understand their environment and participate meaningfully in society.
He also linked literacy to environmental responsibility, saying educated citizens were better positioned to understand issues such as climate change, flooding and the need to protect the environment.
Another member of the association, Muhammed Thomson, said literacy should go beyond the ability to read and write to include practical, technical and digital skills capable of empowering young people economically.
He identified skills such as coding, website and application development, content creation and the use of artificial intelligence, as well as vocational skills such as soap, detergent and cream production, as opportunities young people could acquire and turn into sources of income.
Thomson said the association was interested in helping young people translate literacy and education into economic independence, personal confidence and relevance to society.
The Secretary of the Kaduna State Chapter of Seadogs, Benjamin Chinoso, said the choice of the school was deliberate, noting that children with disabilities were often overlooked in conversations about out-of-school children and access to education.
He called on the Kaduna State Government and the Ministry of Education to strengthen support for schools serving children with special needs.
Chinoso further advocated the creation of a dedicated department within the education system to address the needs of students with disabilities and ensure they receive appropriate support.
He disclosed that the association was also exploring a skills-acquisition programme for the students, promising to follow up on the initiative in collaboration with relevant government authorities.
The Principal of the Demonstration School of the Deaf, Mrs. Victoria Adesina, appreciated the Seadogs for choosing the school for the literacy celebration and for providing materials that would directly benefit the students.
She noted that the beginning of the school term was an appropriate time for such donations, as the materials would be put to immediate use by the students.
Adesina also expressed concern over poor attendance during the first week of school, saying some parents kept their children at home because of the belief that little academic work was done at the beginning of a new term.
She urged parents to understand that every school activity, including cleaning and preparation, forms part of the learning process.
One of the students, Aisha Jibril, a JSS 3 student, expressed appreciation to the Seadogs for the visit and the educational support.
She said the intervention would help the students learn better and thanked the organisation for educating and encouraging them on International Literacy Day.
The Seadogs’ visit underscored the need for literacy interventions to reach children with disabilities, while reinforcing the importance of combining education with practical skills and inclusive support to enable every child to realise their potential.
