- SWAD tasks South-West govt. on education, employment of members
The South-West Association of the Deaf (SWAD) on Thursday urged the six South-West governments to provide adequate education and employment opportunities to its members in their States.
Dr Taiwo Akangbe, the Chairman, SWAD made the appeal in a press briefing to kick off the 4th edition of South-West Culture and Arts Festival in Badagry.
According to him, somehow governments did not fully see our disability as something need serious attention because we don’t have ability to hear.
“The government should give us serious consideration. We are not lack in knowledge, wisdom, but our inability to hear did not give us much opportunity to there language of communication.
“It is very important to be associated, to be in the society. We ask government for more support in the area of education.
“Books should be used to make it easy for majority of us because understanding come before anything you are doing in life.
“Reading most of them, the way they put the writing, they don’t understand it. Government should bring in more books and employ more teachers in the school.
“Also, our parents too should not be left behind because whatever the government plan to do for the children must involve their parents too,” he said.
Alagbe urged the government of South-West to carry them along in their activities, adding that they should be fully involved.
On their 4th edition of South-West Culture and Arts Festival, the chairman said the theme of event was tagged” The Deaf of Southwest Nigeria: Preserving and Leveraging Yoruba Culture for Global Impacts”.
According to him, this brings together Deaf participants from across the Southwest to celebrate our rich cultural heritage, showcase talents, promote unity, and advocate for greater inclusion of Deaf persons in all aspects of society.
“Over the coming days, participants will engage in cultural displays, artistic performances, educational sessions, sporting activities, and networking opportunities.
“These will will strengthen our community and preserve our cherished Yoruba traditions,” he said.
Also, Mr Omotola Ezekiel, former Chairman and Coordinator, SWAD, called on the government of South-West to provide employment opportunities for their members.
“Another thing is that we need assistance, provision of employment for the deaf people.
“Not only teacher, teacher alone, but in other areas where many deaf can benefit, we have graduates,” he said.
Dr Agatha Olaninyi, a deaf from Osun State, urged the government to document Yoruba sign language.
According to her, when we talk of culture in Deaf community we are talking about sign language.
“Because language is one thing under culture that we use to know people In the Deaf community, what we know with is sign language, using of sign language.
“I want us to know that what we are using here in Nigeria, most of them are not from Nigeria.
“We learned it from other countries We want the government to preserve the Yoruba sign language and we need to document it,” she said.
