Some members of the Association of sign language interpreters of Nigeria from several states in Nigeria on Friday paid a courtesy call to the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, Mr. James David Lalu.
The visit came after successful review of the sign language Communication and interpreting program of the Federal University, Lafia, and the 2 Day capacity building workshop for sign language interpreters in Nigeria, which ended with a road walk to create sign language awareness on the streets of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in commemoration of the international Day for sign language, with the Theme ‘Sign language Unites us’, these events were organised courtesy of the funding and support of the Commission.
The National president of ASLIN, Timothy Tinat expressed profound appreciation to the Executive Secretary for the foresight in bringing veteran sign language interpreters from the USA to review the sign language Communication programme in the federal University Lafia, while noting that the program would see to the training of qualified sign language interpreters in the nearest future.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, expressed delight to receive members of ASLIN, while appreciating the roles sign language interpreters play in bridging communication gap between the Deaf and hearing members of the society.
Speaking further, he pledged that the capacity workshop would be an annual event so as to continue upgrading the skills and professional outputs of interpreters in the discharge of their noble duties.
The ES also announced that the commission had employed 15 Sign language interpreters, and would soon deploy them to different ministries, departments and agencies of Government.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of a plaque and gifts to Ms Lisa Weems, one of the resource person from the USA who had facilitated the training and curriculum review exercise.
