Deaconess Professor Augustina Naami, a distinguished member of the National Executive Committee of the Ministry to Persons with Disabilities of The Church of Pentecost, has achieved international recognition after delivering the 2025 Hokenstad International Lecture at the 71st Annual Conference of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in Denver, Colorado, USA.
Prof. Naami, who worships at the East Legon Worship Centre and served as the immediate past Women’s Ministry Leader of the church, was also presented with the Hokenstad International Lecture Award for her outstanding contributions to global social work education.
The conference, held under the theme “It’s Time to Act: Championing Disability Justice and Disability Joy in Social Work,” brought together leading educators, practitioners, and researchers from across the globe. It focused on promoting disability justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in social work, providing an international platform for dialogue and collaboration.
In her lecture, Prof. Naami highlighted the importance of moving beyond merely removing barriers for persons with disabilities. She called for the creation of supportive and enabling environments that allow individuals to thrive. “Disability justice is not solely about dismantling barriers; it is equally about creating spaces where persons with disabilities can truly triumph, live and celebrate their full humanity,” she said. She further stressed that social work education is pivotal in fostering “transformative spaces where disability justice and disability joy work hand in hand.”
Drawing on her extensive research and advocacy on disability inclusion, Prof. Naami reflected on social policy and justice, particularly within Ghana and the broader Global South. Her insights emphasized the need to address the intersection of vulnerabilities and the role of social work in creating inclusive societies.
Prof. Naami’s exceptional scholarship and leadership earned her the Hokenstad International Lecture Award, an honour presented to individuals whose work significantly advances international social work education and practice. Expressing her gratitude, she said, “It is truly heartwarming that my work on disability and the intersection of vulnerabilities, driven by a passion to bridge research, pedagogy and practice, is being recognised and celebrated on an international platform.”
An Associate Professor of Disability and Social Work and Head of the Department of Social Work at the University of Ghana, Prof. Naami has contributed extensively to teaching, research, and service. She instructs undergraduate and graduate courses across the University of Ghana’s main and City Campuses, specializing in macro-level practice and social policy. Her research spans disability, mental health, gender, poverty, social policy, and the intersection of multiple vulnerabilities.
The Hokenstad International Lecture Series, established in 2007 through an endowment by M.C. “Terry” Hokenstad, former President of CSWE, supports the Katherine A. Kendall Institute for International Social Work Education and promotes the mission of the Commission on Global Social Work Education.
