Language Accessibility and Communication Challenges among the Igbo and Deaf Communities in Lagos

Abstract

This study evaluates the extent to which Igbo language and sign language are accessible within key institutional domains in Lagos State, Nigeria. Lagos is a multilingual metropolis where speakers of several Nigerian languages interact daily; however, language access for minority language groups and deaf individuals remains inconsistent. The study investigates five domains: healthcare institutions, courts, broadcast media, religious institutions, and political spaces. Data were collected through interviews with officials in selected institutions, media reports, and participant observation. Findings indicate that both Igbo language and sign language remain underrepresented in institutional communication structures. While limited sign language interpretation exists in some television stations and churches, consistent interpretation across domains is rare. Similarly, Igbo language, though widely spoken among migrants in Lagos, is rarely formally accommodated in public services. The study concludes that meaningful linguistic inclusion requires institutional policies that support both indigenous spoken languages and sign language. Such measures will improve communication access, social participation, and civic inclusion for marginalized linguistic communities in Lagos.

Keywords: Sign language, Igbo language, linguistic access, Lagos, multilingualism, deaf community