The Kwara state association of the deaf has called on Kwara State government to consider its members in employment and participation in governance in the state.
The group while marking the International Week of the deaf made this call through its state chairman, Ridwan Hassan at a press briefing at the NUJ Press Centre, Ilorin on Mondayexpress its gratitude to immediate past administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for giving it ten slots for employment, therefore, urging the Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led administration to run an all-inclusive government that will accommodate the interest of the deaf and other people living with disability in the state.
Ridwan Hassan who spoke on the theme: “Nigerian Disability Rights Act: Sign Language” said that the deaf can also work in other government parastatals and agencies like the normal people further hinted that there are experts such as; Medical Doctors, Lecturers, and various other professionals among their membership.
The state Chairman said that all over Kwara State, the group has about two thousand and fifteen registered members while acknowledging that there are several others who are yet to be captured in the registration.
He said that most of those registered attended the same educational institutions with other members of the society and are very knowledgeable in various field of endeavours with certificate to backed up their qualifications.
He also made a call that government speeches and public television programmes be done with a sign interpreter that will interpret goings on for the deaf and others who can understand only sign language to enjoy what is been communicated.
In addition, he called on the government to appoint a special assistant who will be an interpreter to serve as a liaison officer between government people living with disability so as to carry them along in the activities of the government.
He lamented that most of them are being cheated when it comes to the issue of expressing themselves to defend their rights even before law courts.
In his own contribution, Abdulfatah Quadri, the assistant secretary of the association said that the essence of the programme was to create awareness about the existence of the deaf in the society and also to express what they pass through as a result of their disability.
He said that these efforts aside the yearly programme has been on to get their members engaged in several organizations so that they can be well placed where they deserve and not been underrated or abused.
