The National Coalition Partners, under the Disability Rights Fund project comprising the Nigeria National Association of the Deaf (NNAD), the Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Nigeria (ASLIN), and the Lionheart Ability Leaders International Foundation (LALIF) are on the verge of beginning the formulation of a National Policy on Sign Language.
This was disclosed when the coalition paid an advocacy visit to the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities on April 8th, 2022.
In a statement made available to Inclusive News Network by Engr. Timothy Adejumo, the National Secretary General, Nigeria National Association of the Deaf, the group said that the visit was meant to check the Commission’s support towards an official recognition of the Nigerian Sign Language (NSL) as an official language in Nigeria and discuss possible ways to achieve the targets.
Adejumo revealed that the outcome of the meeting were very encouraging as the ES assured them of the Commission’s full support in the policy formulation and implementation.
“We are to begin with formulation of National Policy on Sign Language.” He said.
Present at the meeting were the Executive Secretary, Mr. James Lalu, NNAD represented by Dr. Chidi Olujie, Mr. Haruna Muhammad and Engr Timothy Adejumo, with representatives of the ASLIN and LALIF in the persons of Mr. Timothy Tinat and Mr. Solomon Okelola, respectively.