By Yusuf Mohammed Lawan, Gombe, 3rd October, 2024
The Executive Director of Ability Plus Initiative (API) Mrs. Janet Fasakin has called on the Nigerian governments at all levels and other policy makers in the country to prioritize supporting the integration of sign language in all sectors of the society purposely to promote the integration and inclusion of Deaf Nigerians in the wider society
The API's Director made the charge while speaking as the convener of the celebration of the 2024 Deaf Awareness Month and commemoration of International Sign Language Day in Abuja recently.
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| Cross section of participants |
Expressing lamentations over the absymal lack of promoting sign language among the comity of languages in Nigeria to promote the inclusion and integration of members of Deaf community in the Deaf wider society, the API's director appeals to the authority concerned to prioritize the integration of sign language in Nigeria to promote the linguistic access and inclusion of Deaf Nigerians from all walks of life in all sectors of public life.
She noted, "Sign language is a vital part of our culture and has allowed many of us to discover who we are and find a sense of belonging"
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| Mrs Janet in the middle planked by the awards recipients |
Adding that, "its through sign language that I as a Deaf individual found a way to communicate and connect with the rest of the world"
"It gave me a voice and a sense of pride in who I am. Today, I can proudly say that I belong to a vibrant and unique community that is rich in culture and history" Fasakin said
"We call on all government bodies, organizations, and advocates to support the integration of sign language in all sectors of society, including healthcare, education, employment, and public services. Sign language is our primary mode of communication, and by learning and incorporating it into your work, you will help create a more inclusive and accessible world for Deaf people"
Emphasizing her organization mission and objectives, the API's director said her organization, the Ability Plus Initiative, is a non-governmental, women-led, advocacy organization that was founded to give voice to women, girls and children with disabilities.
"We believe in empowering them to change their world through advocacy, capacity building and awareness creation" she said
The organization, Ability News Network understands, promotes and strengthens the voice of women, girls and children with disabilities, supporting them to participate in the global movement for gender equality, social justice, children’s rights and disability inclusion, irrespective of their political, religious and cultural differences. Through this organization, they find a platform to engage stakeholders and policy makers on their issues.
The event, Ability News Network reports features presentation of outstanding merits awards to few people including the president of ECOWAS Court of Women Forum, Mrs Francis Ibagan, who received an Inclusive Sign Language Award for her efforts to promote sign language in Nigeria. followed by the CEO of Kids & Teens, Mr. Martin Mary Falana, who was equally recognized for his advocacy for the Deaf community, likewise Servelead Global was honoured for their supportive role towards API's development as a critical partner. certificates of completion of training were also awarded to several students who completed the sign language training course organized by the Ability Plus Initiative.
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