TQM Report,
The Executive Secretary National Commission for Persons with Disabilities Mr James David Lalu has asserted that sign language must be learned by members of the families of persons who are hard of hearing.
In a press release signed by JohnMichael Mbanefo I, the head of Media and Publicity, NCPWD, the ES made this disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday at a 2-day Workshop organized by Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria ( A- TIPSOM ) to build the Capacity of Executive Members of Nigerian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD).
Lalu underpinned the importance of understanding sign language for seamless communication with the deaf in the society. “It can be quite frustrating that siblings and sometimes parents of the deaf cannot communicate with them” he lamented.
The Executive Secretary also bemoaned the behavioral challenges the Deaf community face in trying to pass across messages or share their concerns without the knowledge of sign language or an interpreter.
He further expressed appreciation to the organizers of Workshop Which is slated to last from the 21st to 22nd of this Month, for rising up to the occasion in commemoration of the international week for the Deaf and further mentioned that the deaf community is such an organized subsect of the society and can easily mobilize to champion the course of persons with Disabilities.
In addition, Lalu hinted that the Commission is working tirelessly to formulate sign language in major local dialects in Nigeria in order to ensure inclusiveness and more participation of deaf Persons at the grassroots into the socio-economic affairs of the country.
Moreover, the Commission’s helmsman cited section 16 of the 2018 Act which criminalizes the act of using Persons With Disabilities to seek alms from the public.
In the same vein, the representative of the Director General, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons, Dr. Fatimah Waziri gave assurance of the agency’s support to the Deaf community in fighting abuse and trafficking of persons with disabilities. She said that persons with disabilities especially the Deaf community are most vulnerable and must be protected.
