Emmanuel Effiong Enensi, a Deaf rights advocate and Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Deaf Students (NANDS), has called for the creation of a National Sign Language Interpreter Certification Board and the formal recognition of Nigerian Sign Language (NSL) by the Federal Government.
In a press statement made available to Inclusive News Network on Saturday, Enensi emphasized that NSL, the primary means of communication for Nigeria’s Deaf community, continues to lack legal recognition—leading to systemic exclusion, inequality, and human rights violations.
“Despite being the primary language for millions of Deaf Nigerians, NSL remains unrecognized. This is not just about language—it’s about justice, identity, and the right to be included,” he said.
Enensi highlighted that the absence of legal recognition has left the country without a national standard or certification process for Sign Language interpreters. As a result, unqualified individuals often work as interpreters, putting Deaf people at risk in critical settings.
He stressed that communication barriers persist for Deaf Nigerians in classrooms, hospitals, courtrooms, and government institutions. Deaf students are frequently left behind in educational settings, Deaf patients are misdiagnosed due to lack of effective communication, and Deaf citizens are often denied justice because interpreters are either absent or unqualified.
Enensi urged the government to recognize NSL as one of Nigeria’s national languages, to establish a body to regulate interpreter training and service delivery, and to ensure that Deaf professionals are included in matters relating to language development, interpretation, and policy-making. He emphasized the need for guaranteed access to qualified interpreters in public services such as education, healthcare, the justice system, and governance.
He pointed out that countries like South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, and the United States have already taken steps to recognize their national sign languages, while Nigeria continues to lag behind despite having one of the largest Deaf populations in Africa.
“Sign Language is not optional—it is our voice, our right, and our identity. Nigerian Sign Language must be recognized, protected, and promoted by law,” he concluded.
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