JAMB Urges FG To Adopt Sign Language As 2nd National Official Language
By Queen Israel, Abuja
Concisedaily Newsonline- Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has called on the federal government to consider the adoption of Nigerian Sign Language (NSL), as the second national official language to show sign of empathy for the large number of fellow compatriots with hearing impairments.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, at the first Africa Regional Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education, Professor Oloyede also urged the National Assembly to establish and attach to the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), a centre for supportive services for PWDs, which would be well equipped with at least one branch in each geo-political zone of the Federation.
“The centre with the assistance of bodies such as JEOG, would be able to attract appropriate technology and policies to make life and study easy for people with special needs. Centre, such as the FGN Supportive Services for the Deaf, located at the University of Ilorin and similar centres established by the Federal Ministry of Education should be reactivated and funded to achieve the lofty goals for which they were established”.
On his part, the minister of state for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, said the conference marks a major milestone in its quest to make learning environments truly inclusive, especially for PWDs called on government at all levels, academic institutions, the private sector, and civil society to ensure that PWDs are not left behind.
Dr. Sununu highlighted some critical points that all stakeholders must focus on to advance the potentials of PWDs in education and economic development to include Building Inclusive Educational Infrastructure, Empowering through Economic Inclusion and Public Policy and Advocacy Shaping.
“As we work toward the realisation of inclusive education, we must provide the necessary physical and digital infrastructure to support various access and learning needs of all students. Tertiary institutions should not only be admitting students with disabilities but also be taking absolute care with regard to accessibility in their campuses through the addition of necessary ramps, elevators, assistive technologies, and other accommodations that would make learning possible and comfortable for all.
“Besides that, teaching aids such as braille, interpreters in sign language, and digital materials prepared for various skills should be provided.
“Let me stress that education is only one side of the coin. People with disabilities must have access to economic opportunities to their skills, qualifications, and potential warrants. For this reason, we have to create opportunities between institutions of education, industries, and governments to develop ways that would take persons with disabilities from education to employment.
” Also, Governments across Africa must play important roles in shaping policies that support inclusiveness at all levels. The enactment and implementation of laws to protect the rights of persons with disabilities ensuring they have equal access to education, health, and employment facilities is very essential.
“We must, therefore, support the inclusion of persons with disabilities in decision-making positions both in government and at all levels of society, as they are supposed to represent their experiences and unique challenges which cannot be represented by others in the shaping of policies and practices responsive to their needs”, he added.
The conference which is themed “Advancing the Potentials of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in Educational and Economic Development”, is aimed at ensuring that every individual, regardless of his/her ability, has access to higher education.
