Abuja: Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has inaugurated a six-month training program for religious leaders on sign language use to enhance inclusivity across religious spaces in Nigeria. The initiative aims to equip clerics from various faiths with the skills needed to better serve individuals with hearing impairments in their communities.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the program will be implemented by the Justice, Development and Peace Caritas Initiative (JDPCI), an agency of the Catholic Church. The initiative seeks to demonstrate love and inclusion by integrating sign language as a valuable tool for ministry. Archbishop Kaigama emphasized that the program could transform religious engagement with the deaf community and promote their full integration into society.
Rev. Fr. Sebastian Sanni, Executive Director of JDPCI, expressed gratitude to Archbishop Kaigama for entrusting the organization with this landmark program. Sanni revealed that the training would receive both technical and financial support from Christian Blind Mission (CBM) International, and it will include virtual and in-person sessions leading to certification for participating clerics. This initiative marks the first interfaith sign language training for religious leaders in Nigeria, involving Catholic priests, pastors, and Muslim clerics.
In a statement delivered by Mr. Timothy Ejeh, JDPC’s Programme Director, Mrs. Ekaete Umoh, Inclusion Coordinator at the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, praised the program’s alignment with the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS). Umoh highlighted the initiative as a timely and innovative approach to ensuring full participation of persons with disabilities in society. She pledged UN support for strategic partnerships promoting inclusivity and expressed hope that the program would benefit individuals with disabilities, their families, and society at large.
Prof. Shehu Galadanci, Murshid of the National Mosque, represented by Imam Haroun Eze, also commended the initiative as a significant step towards disability inclusion in religious life. He urged religious leaders to become more responsive to the needs of people with disabilities and pledged support to amplify these efforts within the Muslim community nationwide.
Goodwill messages from national and international organizations, including the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, CBM International, CAFOD, Disability Rights Fund, Sightsavers, and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, recognized the program as a beacon of hope and a vital step towards upholding the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Additional support was provided by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPwD), UFUK Dialogue Foundation, and SIEDI.
