Makurdi, Nigeria – Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Benue State have called on the government to deploy sign language interpreters across public institutions such as police stations, courts, and hospitals to enhance communication access for deaf individuals.
The call was made by Ezekiel Eladoga, State Cluster Head of the Nigeria Association of the Deaf, during a stakeholder engagement meeting organized by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund in Makurdi. Eladoga highlighted the persistent communication barriers faced by the deaf community in essential service areas and urged both government and private institutions to take decisive steps to address the issue.
He emphasized the need for the effective implementation of disability laws, particularly the provision for the employment of sign language interpreters in both public and private sectors. According to him, such inclusion would give deaf individuals a greater sense of belonging and access to services.
Speaking at the event, Programme Coordinator of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Daniel Ogabiela, explained that the stakeholder meeting was part of the D-RAPID project, aimed at strategizing the domestication and implementation of the Disability Rights Act in Benue State.
Ogabiela noted that the forum would help stakeholders better understand the challenges and gaps within the law and explore possible amendments.
“From this engagement, we’ve learned more about the daily struggles the deaf face—especially in hospitals and other institutions. Many public and private spaces remain inaccessible to persons with disabilities. These issues must be addressed through deliberate and inclusive engagements like this,” he said.
Ogabiela also noted that the meeting was the Fund’s first engagement in the state and expressed gratitude to all participants, assuring them that all recommendations would be carefully considered and transformed into actionable plans.
In a presentation on “Barriers and Opportunities for Disability Inclusion,” legal practitioner Barr. Ori Onum decried the lack of compliance with disability inclusion provisions, especially regarding building accessibility and employment quotas. She criticized many public institutions for failing to allocate the mandated five percent of job opportunities to persons with disabilities, stressing that “there is ability in every disability.”
Also speaking, the Principal Special Assistant to the Benue State Governor on Persons With Special Needs, Bem Anshe, commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his administration’s attention to disability issues. He, however, appealed for the establishment of a dedicated Disability Commission to further strengthen institutional support for the community.
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