The Federal Government has directed all teacher training institutions in Nigeria to incorporate sign language education into their curricula to foster inclusive learning for children with hearing impairments.
Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, made the announcement on Friday in Abuja during the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child celebration, themed “Lead a Change: Learn Sign Language Today.”
Prof Ahmad said the Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), is committed to making classrooms more accessible and inclusive, especially for girls with disabilities. She noted that disability inclusion should be a core national policy rather than an afterthought.
“Sign language is a bridge, not a barrier,” she said. “We must train more interpreters, integrate sign language into teacher education, and equip classrooms with visual-gestural tools that enable communication.”
UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr Aisha Garba, described sign language instruction as a national priority and part of efforts to institutionalise disability-inclusive education.
“No girl should suffer in silence,” she said, adding that UBEC is working with stakeholders to improve school infrastructure, teacher capacity, and child protection systems.
Both officials urged parents, educators, and communities to support inclusive education and empower girls to “lead change, one sign at a time.”
