The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) are thrilled to announce Bernice Adekeye as the recipient of the 2025 Rebecca H. Rhodes African Inclusive Literacy Research Prize.

Selected from a competitive pool of applications across the continent, Ms. Adekeye, a PhD candidate in Bilingual Education at Gallaudet University, Washington, DC, impressed the selection committee with her study proposal titled, “Parents’ Beliefs about Early Bilingual Exposure of Young Deaf Children to Nigerian Sign Language and Spoken Languages: A Mixed Method Study.”

Ms. Adekeye is also the founder of the Luminous Deaf Scholastic Initiative (LUDESI), a nonprofit in Nigeria dedicated to enhancing the linguistic and educational experiences of children with hearing impairments through collaboration with parents, educators, and policymakers. Her research seeks to explore the foundational linguistic skills required for early literacy, self-efficacy, and self-worth among young children with hearing impairments, and how these needs intersect with socio-cultural factors.

The selection committee praised her proposal for its clarity, methodological rigor, and potential to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on inclusive bilingual education for children with hearing impairments and their families, with a particular emphasis on the Nigerian context.

Through the Rebecca H. Rhodes Prize, Ms. Adekeye will receive critical support to conduct comprehensive fieldwork and develop evidence-based policy recommendations aimed at promoting inclusive bilingual education and literacy development for children with hearing impairments and their families. The findings from her research are expected to directly impact literacy outcomes for young children with hearing impairments in Nigeria, particularly through her organization, LUDESI.

ADEA congratulates Ms. Adekeye for her dedication and commitment to advancing inclusive literacy research. Her work holds immense potential to influence inclusive education practices and policy in Africa and beyond.

ADEA and CIES also extend gratitude to all candidates who applied for this year’s prize, as well as the sponsors who have generously supported the Rebecca H. Rhodes African Inclusive Literacy Research Prize. Founding sponsors include ADEA, the CIES Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for Inclusive Education, Afrika, and Global Literacy, Chemonics International, FHI 360, RTI International, and the Basic Education Coalition. Additional sponsors include Inclusive Development Partners, Save the Children, and numerous individual donors.

To learn more about the Rebecca H. Rhodes African Inclusive Literacy Research Prize or to make a donation, please visit the CIES website.

Congratulations to Bernice Adekeye for this remarkable achievement!