A Non governmental organization dedicated towards building the capacity of media practitioners and persons with disabilities on disability inclusion, Jomida Foundation for Persons With Disabilities has called on Minister of Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to take action and redirect television stations to have sign language interpretation in their major news.
This call was made through a press release by the Founder of the organization, Comrade Agbo Christian Obiora to mark the International Day of Sign Language.
Comrade Agbo recalled that The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed gave a directive to NBC last year during an advocacy visit to his office by CCD to ensure that Sign Language Interpretation is made to be in the major news of all TV stations.
He asked: why are we still seeing many television stations airing their news without sign language interpretation included in them thereby excluding over 10 million Nigerians with deafness from the happenings around them.
“As we mark International Day of Sign Language today 23rd September, I want to use this opportunity to remind the Honourable Minister to revisit that directive and ensure that it is fully implemented for the good of Deaf Persons because they are part of us”.
‘The theme of this year celebration is ‘Sign Language Unite Us”. This implies that if sign language is recognized as one of the official languages in Nigeria like English, Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba etc, it will further unite us with numerous Deaf Persons who lives among us.
He called for inclusion of sign language in the school curriculum, as well as ensuring that in any gathering in Nigeria, sign language interpreters would not be found missing.
“As we approach campaigns for next year’s general elections, political parties should ensure that there are presence of sign language interpreters in all their campaigns” he added.
He urged the media to amplify the need for recognition of sign language interpretation in our hospitals, banks, churches, schools, events, offices etc.
International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is celebrated annually across the world on 23 September every year along with International Week of the Deaf.
