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The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Benue State on Special Abilities and Sign Language, Hon. George Tubaba Angwe, is currently representing Benue State at the 2025 National Convention of the Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Nigeria (ASLIN), holding at the NAF Conference Centre, Jahi District, Abuja.
The three-day convention, which opened today, has as its theme: “The Role of Sign Language Interpreters in the Actualization of Human Rights of the Deaf.” The event has drawn sign language interpreters, disability rights advocates, government officials, and members of the deaf community from across the country.
Hon. Tubaba Angwe, who is widely recognized for his advocacy for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Benue State, is attending as both a delegate and a voice for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in the state. His participation underscores Governor Hyacinth Alia’s commitment to ensuring that the concerns of citizens with special needs are heard at the highest national levels.
The convention is expected to address critical issues such as professional standards for interpreters, access to public services in sign language, legal recognition of Nigerian Sign Language, and the elimination of communication barriers that continue to limit the participation of deaf persons in education, employment, justice, and governance.
Participants praised the choice of theme, noting that accurate and professionally trained sign language interpretation remains one of the most powerful tools for guaranteeing the fundamental human rights of deaf Nigerians.
Speaking through an interpreter at the opening session, one deaf delegate expressed gratitude to states like Benue that have appointed qualified officials to coordinate disability matters, saying it gives hope that the voices of the deaf are finally being carried to the corridors of power.
As the convention continues over the weekend, stakeholders are optimistic that concrete recommendations will emerge to strengthen the legal and policy framework for sign language interpretation and deaf inclusion nationwide.
Benue State continues to lead by example in the North-Central region with the active involvement of Hon. George Tubaba Angwe in national conversations that directly affect the lives of citizens living with hearing impairment.
