Governor Oyebanji Order Sign Language Training for Civil Servants and Political Appointees

In his efforts to encourage social inclusion that will guarantee more interpersonal relationship among the civil servants and other officers with deafness and hard of hearing community, the Ekiti state Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has approved the introduction of social inclusion opportunity that promotes the usage of Sign Language among all members of staff and political appointees of government in the State and Local Government Areas.

In a circular signed by A.V. Adeleye for Head of Service to the governor dated Monday, 20th November, 2023, governor Oyebanji offers a 10-minute Facebook Sign Language training session for all Civil Servants and Political Appointees. The training has been scheduled to hold from Friday, 1 December, 2023 to Wednesday, 31 January, 2024 on alternate days i.e. Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, excluding public holidays of 25 and 26″, December, 2023 and 1 January, 2024 by 12 noon to 12:10 pm each day.

The Gov also tasked all Accounting Officers to ensure the participation of all members of staff of their Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the training session.

“All MDAS will be required to send a 58-second video recording demonstrating what they have learnt and how they have used the Sign Language to improve social inclusion and communication with people with deafness at the end of the programme.

“All Civil Servants at their respective MDAS are expected to sign in on the Facebook page of EKSG Special Education and Social Inclusion; they are also to indicate their MDAs by using abbreviations like: OTSD, MOH or MOE et.c."

The statement also indicates that here will be awards for the most visible MDA and the MDA with the best video after the completion of the training.