President, Nigeria National Association of the Deaf, Hon. Chidi Olujie and the executive members of NNAD have praised the Center for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) for its commendable role in enlightening the Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed about the issues of concern to Deaf citizens regarding absence of Sign Language Interpreters on National TV which birthed a directive mandating the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and major media houses to ensure provision of sign language interpreting services during newscasting .
This was revealed in a statement signed by the president, and made available to Inclusive News Network on Saturday.
Hon. Chidi noted that the news is coming at a time when the Deaf community is being neglected, excluded and discriminated against in accessing information through broadcasting services of these stations for more than 49 years of the association’s existence.
CTO, as he is fondly called remarked: “if the provision is implemented, the burden of deaf persons having to depend on others to access news and other relevant information on national TVs will be removed.”
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He thereafter called for mass employment of sign language interpreters to ease reception of TV news by Deaf people, adding that “these interpreters are the eyes and ears of the Deaf”
Olujie also affirmed NNAD’s commitment to working with Sign Language interpreters association to support the government and other stakeholders like CCD to implement the directive and ensure inclusion of sign language interpreters on TV news in accordance with section 2 of the Discrimination against persons with Disabilities (prohibition) Act 2018.
Olujie also urged the ministry and the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities to collaborate with NNAD in promoting the inclusion and recognition of sign language as a national Language in Nigeria.