The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), in partnership with the Nigerian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD), has renewed calls for the official recognition of Nigerian Sign Language (NSL) as part of national life.
The call came as both bodies joined the global community to celebrate the International Day of Sign Language with an awareness march from the National Human Rights Commission to the National Assembly. The 2025 event carried the global theme “No Human Rights without Sign Language Rights” and Nigeria’s sub-theme “Advancing Deaf Identity and Inclusion through Nigerian Sign Language Recognition.”
Speaking during the commemoration, the Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, described sign language as a bridge to inclusion and equality, opined that its lack of recognition in Nigeria amounts to discrimination.
“The lack of recognition and support for sign language in Nigeria is not just an oversight, it is a form of discrimination that undermines the daily lives of millions who rely on it,” Gufwan said. “From accessing education and healthcare to participating in governance and civic life, sign language is central to ensuring equal opportunity and true inclusion.”
Gufwan urged the National Assembly to speedy grant NSL official language status, equal to other national languages; Integrate NSL into governance, education, and healthcare systems; Develop policies to train and deploy professional interpreters nationwide and Increase funding for sign language education and interpreter training.
In his remark, the President of NNAD, Mr. Haruna Muhammad Tsafe, aligned with these demands, citing sections of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 that already recognizes the importance of NSL.
“Recognizing sign language as an official language is not a privilege, it is a right. It is essential for building an inclusive Nigeria where no citizen is left behind,” Tsafe stressed.
NCPWD and NNAD reaffirmed their joint commitment to advancing disability rights and ensuring that Nigerians’ deaf achieve full inclusion and dignity.
As the world marked the International Day of Sign Language, the Commission called on government, civil society, and the private sector to promote sign language as a tool of equality, accessibility, and civilization.
