In Nigeria’s diverse society, the Deaf community represents a rich culture, and experiences remain hidden in the shadows. This community, bound together by a shared experience of deafness and a common language—Nigerian Sign Language (NSL)—holds a distinctive place in the nation’s narrative.
As Nigeria’s government grapples with the challenges of inclusivity and social equity, understanding and addressing the needs of the Deaf community have become increasingly important. This post examines the Deaf community and the government in Nigeria, shedding light on the pressing issues that demand attention.
The Deaf Community in Nigeria
Sign Language
Deaf Nigerians use three sign languages, but none are official languages. Nigeria is a tribal country, and most deaf communities have a local language: Yoruba Sign Language of the Yoruba indigenous group in south Nigeria, Hausia Sign Language in the north, and Bura in the east. Other indigenous languages haven’t been studied extensively by researchers.
Nigerian Sign Language is widely accepted, as it’s in the deaf education cirriculum. Nigerian Sign Language (NSL) mirrors American Sign Language (ASL). Andrew Forster, on behalf of the Christian Mission for the Deaf, Forster introduced ASL to Nigeria in 1960. Since then, people in Nigeria still use ASL.
However, there is an issue with the use of ASL in Nigeria. Ever since the introduction of ASL in schools in the ’60s, it led to a loss of culture. The S-Deli is an organization with a mission to save indigenous sign languages. They argue that ASL is not a representation of Nigerian deaf culture. Local languages exist in many communities, and there should be a commitment to keep them thriving. Practicing a more internationally recognized Sign Language makes the traditional culture disappear.
Social Stigma
Part of society looks down on the deaf population. They see it as a weakness that impedes society. It’s an unfortunate truth that makes lives harder for deaf people. Villages and rural areas have limiting beliefs about being deaf. Old superstitions make people believe that deaf people are cursed. The government’s negative attitude towards deaf people can contribute to the lack of access to government services, supplies, and other resources like interpreters.
Discrimination Against Deaf Women
Accessibility is a crucial issue for deaf people. It encompasses many areas, like education, healthcare, and more. In Nigeria, deaf people are marginalized and face barriers to doing basic things. Gender discrimination is another issue and an added layer for the deaf community.
Women and deaf women alike face discrimination in Nigeria. The most vulnerable people are the women in the deaf community who live in rural areas with little access to adequate health facilities or government services.
According to a report put out by the World Federation of the Deaf, the cause of these issues is the language barrier. Language deprivation leads to inaccessibility to education, political participation, healthcare, and being recognized by the law.
Discrimination occurs during healthcare visits for deaf women. If a doctor decides to take them as a patient, they request a guardian so they don’t have to speak in sign language. It leads to a plethora of issues because a woman loses her voice. She cannot speak up for herself and her health issues. The multi-dimensional discrimination impacts women, deaf people, and those who speak indigenous languages.
Even worse, deaf Nigerian women who also identify as LGBTQ+ are neglected by the government. They’re more at risk of sexual and domestic violence within the deaf community. They can also be forced into marriages, human trafficking, and more horrific situations.
Education for the Deaf Community
For the one million deaf people in Nigeria, and thanks to Forester, there are several deaf private and boarding schools. There are also training centers for teachers to train in the deaf cirriculum. However, the African Sign Languages Resource Center reports that deaf people feel stagnant about the education system, as there hasn’t been a real change made. After the introduction of ASL/NSL and the establishment of deaf schools by Christian missionaries in the late 1950s, the government eventually took over deaf education.
However, the government seems to cause more harm than positive impact on the deaf community. The Nigerian government proposed a plan to provide trained professionals to work with deaf students from primary to university level education. There is little evidence that they have, putting deaf students at a disadvantage. Because of the unstructured training programs, there are barely any qualified teachers.
Lack of Proper Facilities
Part two of this faltering education system is the National Policy on Education in Nigeria. This document presented policies for deaf schools to have proper facilities, textbooks, and other materials to effectively educate the deaf community. As, with the unqualified teachers, there have also been reports about the lack or nonexistence of resources in deaf schools. This makes learning practice ineffective for deaf students, which also results in bigger barriers for them in their professional lives.
Some students find traditional school unstimulating. These people have the option to go into vocational training like becoming a mechanic, contracting, hospitality, and other trades. In Nigeria, the National Policy on Education also created programs for students to attend vocational programs. However, there is also evidence that there are no schools for the deaf to receive vocational training.
How The Government Impacts the Deaf Community
The government currently provides no social services nor legislation to support deaf people/ There is also no social security system in place for deaf people in Nigeria. The lack of social security hurts the vulnerable communities living in poverty and gives no hope for a better future.
Representation in Action
The Nigerian government attempts to guarantee the rights of deaf people, but because of the social stigma and status of the deaf in Nigeria, getting help can be a difficult thing. The Washington Post reports on a deaf man named, Irokaba. He has been a trailblazer for the deaf community in Nigeria. Irokaba was educated in the United States at Gallaudet University but returned to Nigeria for a personal mission.
Growing up, Irokaba was taught to stay in the shadows, learn a vocational trade, and have very little contact with the rest of society. His father told him that this would make his life easier. But Irokaba had a different vision, even if adversity would step in his way. He wanted to use the teaching styles for the deaf he learned in university to improve the state of education for the deaf. The next mission is to use his platform to work with the national government and change laws that impede him from being independent in society.
The Nigeria National Association of the Deaf is one of the major organizations in Nigeria that is stepping up and advocating for the community nationwide. The purpose of this organization is to shed light on the weakest policies of the national government. The legal team represents deaf people in the courts who choose to fight against those who violate the disabilities laws. These are also known as impact cases.
Nigerian society developed in a way to create barriers for deaf people to fully participate in the community. These barriers are formed by different communication systems. The Nigerian government already fails to recognize the existence of local sign languages. The failure to establish the basis of the deaf community and the right to communicate reflects the lack of initiative by the national government to ensure the rights of deaf people access to a quality education and healthcare, and exercise rights as citizens. It is the responsibility of the government to remove these barriers. The government should be building an environment for the needs and acceptance of deaf people.
How can the government support the deaf community? Learn more at https://www.unspokenasl.com/
Thumbnail Photo by McBarth™ Obeya on Pexels
