The Chief Executive Officer and Convener of the SpeakingFingers Network, Treasures Uchegbu has become a force in Nigeria’s disability inclusion movement, transforming the silence of the Deaf community into powerful voices for leadership, advocacy and change.

When Treasures Uchegbu walks into a room, she carries with her more than a title – she brings a vision. SpeakingFingers Network was founded with the mission to empower especially the Deaf Adolescent community with the skills, dignity, and tools they need to live fully and to thrive. The foundation, she recounted seven years and still counting to legacy by God’s.

These are areas of focus Our Thematic Focus includes Human Capital Development, Capacity Building with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to lead productive lives.

Secondly, Disability, Sign language, SDGs Sensitisation, to raise awareness and integrate disability inclusion into the mainstream fabric of society, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We also engage on Policy Advocacy, Community and Stakeholders Engagement: We are dedicated vocal advocacy; strategic engagements that drive policy changes, mobilise action to championing the rights of the Deaf community, the ripple effect is a more inclusive society.

We engage Fund Raising and Resource Mobilisation efforts on securing localized and external financial and in-kind resources needed to sustain and scale our life-changing programmes. Other projects are Expert Training, Research and Reporting to understand community needs, and report on our impact to ensure accountability and growth.

For over seven years, she has led SpeakingFingers, a volunteer-driven network devoted to empowering Deaf adolescents, CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults), and their hearing peers. Under her guidance, the group has grown from a small idea into a national voice for policy advocacy, inclusive education, and sustainable development.

Her journey is anchored on one conviction: “Leaving no one behind is not charity – lt is responsibility.” That conviction came alive again at the just-concluded SpeakingFingers Deaf Teens Summer DTSMeet2025, where 103 teenagers – including Deaf Ambassadors, CODAs and hearing allies – underwent a five-day leadership and life skills training at the Daystar Leadership Academy (DLA) for Teens in Lagos.

The programme 5th edition with the Theme “IGNITE” powered by scholarships from Daystar Leadership Academy and Abiding Love Foundation, and supported by Ronero Nigeria Limited, equipped the young leaders -now called SpeakingFingers Global Champions-in-Training – with practical skills in teamwork, communication, problem-solving and resilience.

Despite daunting challenges like transport costs and the need for sign-language interpreters, Uchegbu’s team improvised with a WhatsApp-based SituationRoom for real-time coordination, while volunteers and ProudFamilies literally shut down businesses to ensure every child could attend.

For Uchegbu, it was proof of her mantra: “It takes a village.” She believes that real empowerment for Deaf children will not come from pity or tokenism, but from accessible education, sign-language literacy, and equal opportunities. She often challenges parents and caregivers to learn sign language, demand inclusive policies, and expose their children to social and leadership opportunities beyond the classroom.

Her leadership has also birthed signature initiatives like The King’s Guest Picnic Hangout, an annual social platform where Deaf and hearing youths interact freely -breaking barriers and building friendships. For many, Treasures Uchegbu is not just a convener -she is a convener of possibilities, a woman turning silence into sound, and dreams into reality.

Educated at the Enterprise Development Centre and with years of experience in project leadership including her work at Mission5000plus Development Initiative, Uchegbu has established herself as a bridge-builder – connecting governments, NGOs, and corporate players to the realities of disability inclusion.

Today, she stands as a mentor and advocate, urging all sectors to invest in the future of young people with disabilities. “When the mind is liberated through exposure, even the blind will see and the deaf will hear,” she says, her words as bold as her actions. She charged the Government, NGOs, individuals, and corporate organizations’ participation and support more.