Deaf community in Ondo seeks Aiyedatiwa action for inclusion, empowerment
Akure, Ondo – In a passionate appeal echoing the global call for sign language recognition, members of the deaf community in Ondo State have urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and key stakeholders to prioritize their welfare through targeted empowerment programs and inclusive employment opportunities.
The plea came during the opening ceremony of the 2025 International Day of Sign Language and the 2nd Deaf Awareness Week Celebration, held at the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Akure.
Organized by the Ondo State Association of the Deaf (ODSAD), the event highlighted the ongoing struggles of hearing-impaired individuals in accessing education, jobs, and basic services, framing their demands as essential steps toward a more equitable society.
"This is a clarion call for our voices—silent to some, but loud in resolve—to be heard," said Patricia Akinyemi, Chairperson of ODSAD, in a statement delivered through a Nigerian Sign Language (NSL) interpreter.
She emphasized that government intervention could transform lives by providing automatic employment quotas in the civil service, vocational training, and accessible healthcare.
"Our welfare isn't charity; it's justice. Empowerment through skills and jobs will allow us to contribute meaningfully to Ondo State's growth," Akinyemi added, pointing to the community's estimated 50,000 members who face daily barriers due to limited NSL interpreters and discriminatory hiring practices.
The gathering, attended by over 200 participants including deaf advocates, educators, and local officials, featured keynote addresses and cultural performances in sign language.
A central lecture by Mike Ologbese, a sign language expert, titled "Importance of Sign Language to the Deaf in Ondo State and Nigeria at Large," underscored how NSL bridges communication gaps and fosters understanding between deaf and hearing communities.
"Sign language isn't just a tool; it's our language of empowerment, dignity, and connection," Ologbese noted, calling for its integration into school curricula and public services.
Ondo State's deaf community has long grappled with systemic exclusion, exacerbated by poverty, inadequate early intervention, and cultural stigmas that delay education—issues mirrored in a 2018 survey of isolated deaf groups across Nigeria, which found that up to 75% of childhood deafness stems from preventable health complications rather than genetics.
Nationally, the Nigerian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) estimates over 1.5 million deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, many underserved despite the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018, which mandates 5% employment quotas for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The plea came during the opening ceremony of the 2025 International Day of Sign Language and the 2nd Deaf Awareness Week Celebration, held at the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Akure.
Organized by the Ondo State Association of the Deaf (ODSAD), the event highlighted the ongoing struggles of hearing-impaired individuals in accessing education, jobs, and basic services, framing their demands as essential steps toward a more equitable society.
"This is a clarion call for our voices—silent to some, but loud in resolve—to be heard," said Patricia Akinyemi, Chairperson of ODSAD, in a statement delivered through a Nigerian Sign Language (NSL) interpreter.
She emphasized that government intervention could transform lives by providing automatic employment quotas in the civil service, vocational training, and accessible healthcare.
"Our welfare isn't charity; it's justice. Empowerment through skills and jobs will allow us to contribute meaningfully to Ondo State's growth," Akinyemi added, pointing to the community's estimated 50,000 members who face daily barriers due to limited NSL interpreters and discriminatory hiring practices.
The gathering, attended by over 200 participants including deaf advocates, educators, and local officials, featured keynote addresses and cultural performances in sign language.
A central lecture by Mike Ologbese, a sign language expert, titled "Importance of Sign Language to the Deaf in Ondo State and Nigeria at Large," underscored how NSL bridges communication gaps and fosters understanding between deaf and hearing communities.
"Sign language isn't just a tool; it's our language of empowerment, dignity, and connection," Ologbese noted, calling for its integration into school curricula and public services.
Ondo State's deaf community has long grappled with systemic exclusion, exacerbated by poverty, inadequate early intervention, and cultural stigmas that delay education—issues mirrored in a 2018 survey of isolated deaf groups across Nigeria, which found that up to 75% of childhood deafness stems from preventable health complications rather than genetics.
Nationally, the Nigerian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) estimates over 1.5 million deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, many underserved despite the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018, which mandates 5% employment quotas for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
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