By Hannatu Sulaiman
The Vice Chairman of the Kano State Association of Deaf, Malam Abba Shehu Husseini wants sign language interpreters to be engaged in all public activities to promote social inclusion in the state.
He made the call in an interview on Monday with Stallion Times at Bayero University, Kano.
Husaini highlighted that with or without the Kano State Disability Law, it is important for the government to embrace the importance and recognize sign language culture for service delivery to the deaf community.
He said: “The hearing impaired clusters are being marginalized in various aspects of sustainable development in the state which in turn affects their zeal and courage to participate in most diverse areas of human endeavours.
“Government in the state have devalued sign language interpreters’ services in health and education which are very important to us.”
“Many states have adopted the used of sign language interpreters in every gathering of Non-governmental organizations, Political campaigns, religious and awareness events.”
Malam Sagir Salisu Muazu is the Chairman Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter.
He said the use of sign language interpreters to raise awareness for the people in the cluster in the state is very poor.
“Let’s look at the educational aspect, a lot of deaf students in the education department of the university face the challenge of understanding lectures while in other departments of the university due to a lack of sign language culture.
“We have always tabled our complaints to the authorities to include our services in the state public activities; though one of us has been engaged by the state assembly.
“The only sets of forums that accept our services with passion are the religious leaders and some Non-government organizations.
The Chairman then called on the Kano state government and other stakeholders to look at the importance of sign language interpreters for the hearing impaired cluster in their awareness activities.
