by Chris Agbo
Abuja Association of the Deaf (AAD) organized a seminar on sign language and exhibition Expo as part of the activities of 2019 Deaf Week Celebration. The International Deaf week is an annual event marked all over of the world to reflect on the plights of the deaf. It is one of the major projects of Nigeria National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) as well as the world body for the deaf (WFD). The theme for 2019 international deaf week is “Sign Language Rights for all”.
The Chairman of AAD, Mr. Omoregie Ephraim A. (JP) in his address said that the theme of this year’s International week of the deaf emphasized the importance of sign language to the deaf because it is the means whereby the deaf communicate among themselves and with others wherever they found themselves. Therefore, it is important that efforts are in place to ensure that deaf people are not denied the basic right that is fundamental to the day to day living of the deaf. The week is to enlighten the public to understand the deaf and their way of life. The event will promote inclusiveness in education, employment, access to information and improve the right of the deaf as part of the society.
Speaking further, he called on government to adopt sign language as one of the major languages in Nigeria because it is the mode of communication of millions of deaf community in Nigeria and this community is excluded when they can not communicate effectively with other members of the society. If a greater number of the members of the society can understand sign language, the barrier of the deaf must have been removed. He also appealed that government come to the aid of the Deaf in the area of empowerment of the deaf to enable them to be self-reliant and contribute their quota to national building. He reminded the week is to raise advocacy for government to abide by the United Nations Convention on Rights of Person with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which Nigeria is a signatory with emphasis on sign language.
Lawrence Idemudia Edelifo, a member, Board of Trustees (NNAD) in his lecture at the event said that sign language is a right for the deaf because it is their language and denying them of it amounts to infringing on their inalienable rights of freedom of expression and right to live a meaningful life. He suggested that we can achieve Sign Language Rights for All when we begin to do what is happening in the advanced community where parents and siblings of the deaf learn and master sign language because family represent the foundation of learning and socialization. Teachers will be well versed in sign language as a matter of fact, Nigeria should design and develop Nigeria National Sign Language which will be unique and peculiar to us here. Sign language should be introduced into the school curriculum. Since Nigeria has signed and ratified CRPD and the Disability Act being in place, all is set to get the job done. What is left now is implementation to activate Article 21: b,e of the CRPD.
The event witnessed goodwill messages from Grace Mama (Department of Public Enlightenment and Mass Mobilization) representing the Director General National Orientation Agency who assured the Association of collaboration to ensure that awareness is being created around sign language in Nigeria.
Ujah A, FCT JONAPWD Chairman and a deaf taught the participants especially those who can not sign alphabets in sign language in the admiration of all. He urges the deaf community to go there and teach everybody sign language and if it continues, there will come a time that majority will know sign language.
Dr. Ibitoye Racheal during her goodwill message told a story on how she learnt sign language while helping out a deaf person and the sign language has brought so many goodies to her life.
Agbo Christian Obiora, the Qualitative Magazine Publisher, in his goodwill message called for the adoption of sign language as one of the major languages in Nigeria, and it should be learnt by everybody because it is a communication of a segment of population who have been excluded through communication. He urges every Nigerian to make effort to learn sign language which he offered to start learning and asked for volunteers to teach him and some sign language interpreters obliged him.
Queen Janet Fasakin, the AAD women leader narrated how she was isolating herself from people because she went to school mingled with other deaf and learnt sign language which has made her bolder and proud and she is doing all she wants to do and she is now proudly working in NTA.
There was also goodwill message from Dr. Austin Kemie for Yakubu Gowon Centre. The event was rounded up with a drama that showed how sign language can dignify the lives of the deaf.
Some of the member showcased some beautiful handmade hats, purse, etc at the entrance of the venue of the event.
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