Deaf in Nigeria
Photo Source:
Anonymous
|
Send Joshua Project a map of this people group.
|
| People Name: | Deaf |
| Country: | Nigeria |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 821,000 |
| World Population: | 27,576,680 |
| Primary Language: | Nigerian Sign Language |
| Primary Religion: | Unknown |
| Christian Adherents: | 6.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 3.00 % |
| Scripture: | Portions |
| Ministry Resources: | No |
| Jesus Film: | No |
| Audio Recordings: | No |
| People Cluster: | Deaf |
| Affinity Bloc: | Deaf |
| Progress Level: |
|
Introduction / History
Deaf ness is a serious disability and exacts a heavy toll on individuals, families, communities, and countries. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and is roughly divided in half between Christians who live in the South and Central parts and Muslims who occupy the North. There are about one million Deaf people living throughout the country.
What Are Their Lives Like?
There are several Deaf schools in Nigeria. These schools are usually boarding schools and are frequently supported by the government. However, because parents see their Deaf children as a shame on the family, they are often prevented from attending. Deaf children are often seen as cursed or demon-possessed. Less than 40% of Nigeria's Deaf children are enrolled in primary school, and even fewer are allowed to continue to secondary school.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Deafness is not limited by faith, but it can limit knowledgeable faith. Nigerians are either Muslim or Christian, but in both cases, the Deaf have a limited understanding of their faith.
What Are Their Needs?
Most teachers in the schools for the Deaf in Nigeria do not know or understand Nigerian Sign Language. The schools follow the 'oral method' of attempting to teach Deaf children to speak and lip-read the spoken language – English. Consequently, the Deaf in Nigeria rarely develop good reading skills and are unable to access the truths of God's word adequately.
There are many hearing churches that have reached out to the Deaf community by using interpreters in their worship services. However, the interpreters are usually untrained and unskilled in the interpreting process, and the Deaf are left on the outside, only able to watch the worship take place, but unable to join in or fully understand what is being done and said around them. In the South and Central states, there are about 30 Deaf led churches.
Prayer Points
Pray for the Lord to prepare and send out Deaf workers to the Deaf in Nigeria.
Ask God to provide worship services in sign language in Nigeria.
Pray for interpreters who love and relate to the Deaf.
Pray for the Deaf in Nigeria to hunger for spiritual truth and find it in Jesus.