Stakeholders advocate promotion of sign language in Nigeria

To promote sign languages and the rights of the deaf, inclusion and equal participation in society, sign language should be accessible, respected and supported to achieve sustainable developmental goals, stakeholders urge.

The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), in collaboration with Speaking Fingers, and other stakeholders to commemorate the maiden edition of International Day of Sign Language (IDSL) in Nigeria.

In his keynote address, the founder of Hope Fountain Schools for the Deaf, Lagos, Anthony Nwokolo, commended the United Nations for celebrating the International Day of Sign Language.

“It is instructive to note that in Nigeria by conservative estimates, there are 12 – 15 million deaf people. This is a large segment of the population, because many states in Nigeria have less than four million people.”

“Many higher institutions do not have sign language interpreter (s) for the deaf, while many churches, hospitals, banks, police stations, television stations, and transport system do not have interpreters for the deaf.”

According to him, deaf Nigerians have been discriminated against, and denied basic human rights for decades.

He lauded the United Nations for declaring that sign language is a basic human right, and each deaf child should learn sign language and be taught sign language in school.

Nwokolo said some people still believe that deaf and mute children should be taught through speech and lip-reading in school, which do not work.

He defined sign language as a way of communication using gestures, signs, body and facial expressions among others, to convey emotions, feelings or ideas

Convener, Speaking Fingers, Treasure Uchegubu, said: “It is a testament to the limited potential and ingenuity of Deaf people if properly harnessed for national development.

“We advocate this in mainstream Nigerian languages like Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba etc. If this is done, the communication barrier will be pulled down for good. Also, banks, hospitals, police stations, airports, bus stations, public places, churches, government offices, TV station need sign language interpreters, so that there will be an easy access to members of the society who are deaf, deaf-mute or hard of hearing”.

Uchegbu recommended the Hope Fountain School as a powerful force to reckon with on qualitative deaf education in Nigeria.

“It is clear that sign language is a very important language and it should be given due recognition, because deaf people do not have any other option to communicate with each other and hearing world. In general, language is an extremely fundamental human need for day-to-day living and interaction. Deaf people are human being too; they have their own language which Sign Language,” she explained.

Director, UNIC, Dr. Roland Kayanja disclosed that the International Day of Sign Language (IDSL) has been adopted by United Nation General Assembly to be celebrated annually during the international week of the deaf.