A Coalition of Disability organisations speak on the desire to be fully involved in nation activities during the Annual General Meeting/ celebration of International week of the Deaf (AGM/IWD) held in Lagos on 27 October to 2nd November, 2019. The title for this year is “Nigerian Disability Rights Act: sign language rights and full inclusion of the Deaf.”
Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, National president of Nigeria National Association of the Deaf, Alhaji Dagbo Sulaiman stated that he wanted his members be given opportunities to participatate in nation’s activities.
The National President of the group, represented by it’s PRO, Henry Obrutu speak during the rally day on Tuesday 29 October in Lagos that the Deaf are not Deaf by choice. He added “The government should stop making us feel less important. We can carry out responsibilities if given the opportunity. We are here to tell the world about our potential and ability to perform excellently in any assignment give to us if the government can believe in us and stop making us feel inferior.”
While thanking Lagos and Plateau state governments for setting the pace with the disability law and established offices that promote and implement the laws. He added “I appeal to the government and friend of the Deaf to join us in this advocacy to make life worth living for deaf people in Nigeria”
The chairman of Lagos State Deaf Association, Lukman Agbabiaka while speaking to INN on Tuesday said “Nigerians should support persons with disabilities by giving them a sense of belonging. The government should also give us access to information through sign language, free health care and space to work in government”
The outgoing chairman of the association, Lukman further added that one of the reasons for this programme is to create awareness about the importance of sign language and for government to legalise on the need to use sign language in schools, offices, and police stations
Deaf Women Association of Nigeria executive director, Adedoyin Beyioku-Alase said “Deaf people are part of the society, we are to be involved in everything. We want the general society, government, private organisations and everyone to include us by asking questions. Don’t answer for us what we need”
Adebayo Adebukola, the chairman of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Lagos State chapter and a visually impaired urged government to implement disability laws. He revealed during the lecture at the welcoming ceremony of AGM/IWD that there are up to fifteen laws for people with disabilities in Lagos state needing implementations.
He added “government should implement the laws and principles to ensure that sign language is learnt not only in schools but to train professional sign language interpreters in institutions and employed by government and sent to different places to provide supportive services for the Deaf”
He further added that it’s also important for government agencies to recognise sign language as a symbol and advised government to ensure that mass media embrace the use of sign language.
Adebayo Adekunle, a lecturer at the Federal College of Education (special) Oyo argued that 2% employment reserved for persons with disabilities is not enough. He wants government to ensure that Deaf people benefit from all job establishments in government settings.
He further said that government should make sign language one of the official languages in Nigeria. He added “if government can do that, it shows clearly that they want us to enjoy our right to language and full inclusion in Nigeria”
Minister of Education for Lagos State, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo represented by Mrs. A. K. Musa said “hearing impaired people are well respected and appreciated by Lagos state government”
“The education given to them is the same education given to the regular children” she added
While congratulating the organiser for the wonderful programme, she urged that the programme be extended to the parents of Children with Disabilities so that they too could be advised and education more.