By Julius Nsikak
In my quiet moments, one recurring thought has continued to unsettle me, the issue of sex and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Stepping into advocacy journalism has been one of my most revealing and transformative experiences. Through months of research and field findings across Akwa Ibom State and beyond, I have come face to face with a distressing reality, that many persons with disabilities in Nigeria lack access to proper sexual education, protection, and intimate awareness, leaving them highly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Sexual education among PWDs remains one of the least discussed aspects of disability inclusion. While disability manifests in various forms, physical, sensory, intellectual, psychosocial, and hidden, society’s approach to their sexuality is often marked by silence, stigma, and ignorance.
In many communities, particularly rural areas, PWDs are excluded from sex education programmes. Teachers, caregivers, and health workers rarely tailor information to their needs, leaving them unaware of their rights, boundaries, and reproductive health. This gap in knowledge exposes them to sexual abuse and manipulation.
One of the most heartbreaking cases that recently came to light is that of Ada, a 22-year-old girl living with both physical and visual impairments in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Crippled, almost non-verbal, and uneducated, Ada has spent her entire life confined indoors due to her condition. Her widowed mother, who earns barely ₦1,000 daily from hawking sachet water, struggles to provide food, shelter, and care for her.
But one afternoon, while her mother was away, an unknown man invaded their one-room apartment. According to Ada’s later confession, the man tied her face with a cloth, threatened to kill her if she screamed, and then raped her twice, leaving her in agony and fear.
Weeks later, when Ada fell ill, a medical examination revealed that she was pregnant. Her mother was devastated. She could not comprehend how a child so helpless, who still struggles with basic self-care, could become a victim of such a monstrous act.
Ada’s story is one of many untold tragedies. It reflects how PWDs are often easy targets, voiceless, defenceless, and invisible to a system that is supposed to protect them.
Similar incidents have occurred across the country, many never making it to the headlines. In another disturbing case, a mentally impaired man was reported to have raped a young girl in a rural community, but the matter quietly died without justice.
Such incidents reveal how sexual violence against PWDs is grossly underreported, either because victims cannot communicate, families fear stigma, or law enforcement agencies fail to treat such cases seriously.
Do you ever wonder how and why a mad woman on the street gets pregnant? Do you think she has a street boyfriend or husband? Definitely not. It is often the result of sexual abuse and countless acts of rape by unknown perpetrators.
A medical personnel, Akwaowo Akpan, agrees that one of the strongest shields against sexual exploitation is comprehensive sex education. Yet, for PWDs, this remains almost non-existent.
Experts lament the level of abandonment and neglect of PWDs and call for a change in the narrative, encouraging parents, caregivers, and security personnel to keep close watch to prevent the victimisation of persons with disabilities.
Sex education for persons with disabilities must go beyond the traditional classroom model. It should be customised, inclusive, and practical. Educational content should be adapted to various forms of disabilities, for instance, braille materials and audio lessons for the visually impaired, sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired, and simplified pictorial guides for those with intellectual disabilities.
Parents, guardians, and special educators also need training to communicate effectively about body autonomy, consent, and safety with PWDs. Many caregivers shy away from such conversations out of ignorance or discomfort.
Rural communities must be sensitised to understand that PWDs are sexual beings who deserve the same level of protection and education as everyone else. Religious and traditional leaders can play a critical role in promoting this awareness.
The government must strengthen existing laws protecting PWDs from abuse. Shelters, legal aid, and emergency response units should be made accessible to persons with disabilities. Health institutions should also be disability-friendly, offering private counselling, reproductive health check-ups, and therapy services for survivors of sexual abuse.
The silence surrounding sexuality and disability must end. Sex education is not immorality, it is empowerment, protection, and dignity. When PWDs are taught about their bodies, boundaries, and rights, they become less vulnerable to manipulation and abuse.
The story of Ada and many others underscores an urgent call for inclusive sexual health education and protection policies that recognise the humanity and dignity of every person, regardless of ability.
As society continues to speak about inclusion, it must remember that inclusivity without awareness is empty. True inclusion must address every facet of human existence, including the right of persons with disabilities to be informed, protected, and respected.
