A foundation, Sharing Education and Learning for Life (SELL), has urged banks in Nigeria to employ sign language interpreters to enhance quality service delivery.

The foundation’s Programme Manager, Benji Benjamin, stated this at a one-day sensitisation exercise on Wednesday in Bauchi.

The exercise focused on policy discussions, compliance and awareness creation regarding inclusive services for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

He said the move would make banking services more accessible to people with disabilities, especially the deaf.

Mr Benjamin said the programme would add to a series of ongoing debates on how to make societies and infrastructure, whether public or private, more inclusive for everybody, including PWDs.

He said, “At the end of the day, each and every one of us that has been invited for this conversation will add to the discussions. It is expected that we leave here with a direction on how each and every one of us will contribute to making our public and private spaces more inclusive for everybody.’’

Mainas Ayuba of the Bauchi State Network of Disability Forum said that impairments shouldn’t be seen as a barrier to PWDs.

He recalled how a hearing-impaired person complained about the non-availability of sign language interpreters/devices in banks when he had an issue with his account and could not resolve it.

He said, “Apart from not resolving the issue, they didn’t give him correct information, and sometimes he will be asked to sit down and they will forget about him. A lot of persons with disabilities who yearn to have bank accounts are resolving to opening online banking, as they can’t go to the conventional banks because they are not treated as expected. Sometimes, some services in the banks are upstairs and someone who is in a wheelchair or on crutches can’t go there and sometimes if they are told that there are customers downstairs, they won’t come down. They’d rather give them forms to fill and that’s how they will end up walking around the banking hall.’’

He called on all and sundry to conceptualise disability, saying such would bring change in the way people see and treat persons with disabilities.

Mr Ayuba also urged institutions of learning to allow people in wheelchairs to use their chairs while receiving lectures and taking examinations instead of directing them to sit on desks.

Also, Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, Haruna Pali, expressed concern over marginalisation, which denied PWDs inclusivity in some quarters.

Responding, a representative of the Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Morris Choji, Bauchi branch, promised to present the request by the association before the upcoming bankers’ committee meeting.

Some of the participants also advocated the full implementation of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act, 2018.

The event was attended by bank representatives, Bauchi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child development, Civil Society Organisations among others.

(NAN)