Mr Observer’s 30-Day Sign Language Challenge Is Getting More Nigerians to Learn Sign Language and Embrace Inclusion
What starts as two signs a day can end up changing how people see the world.
For over a decade, Bayonle Olaloluwa widely known as Mr Observer has been quietly doing the work: teaching, interpreting, and advocating for a more inclusive society. But in 2020, in the middle of a global pause, he started something that refused to stay small.
The 30-Day Sign Language Challenge.
What began as a simple idea has now grown into a yearly movement, one that is connecting communities, building confidence, and proving that communication should never be a privilege.
In this conversation, he shares the journey, the impact, and the deeper purpose behind it all.
I'm Fikayo Ajayi and I have here today; Mr Bayonle Olaloluwa popularly known as Mr Observer. It's good to have you here sir
You are known in the Deaf Community but I need you to answer this question first; Who is Mr. Observer beyond the titles and introduce yourself to the new audience
I am Bayonle Olaoluwa, and first, I am a Sign Language Interpreter, a Deaf Educator and an advocate for Inclusion of People Living With Disabilities (PWDs) with over 10 years of experience in the Deaf Community.
But more than that, I see myself as a bridge, someone committed to connecting the hearing and Deaf communities, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
My journey is driven by a strong belief that communication is a right, not a privilege. So everything I do revolves around breaking barriers, raising awareness, and empowering others through sign language.
And for those meeting me for the first time, I’m someone who genuinely believe that even the smallest effort to learn can make a huge difference. I believe that's brief enough.
Interesting. Thanks for that intro, and yes, your decade of works has been speaking for you. Welldone Mr Observer
Thank you great greatly
What's a normal day in your life as a deaf educator and advocate?
A normal day for me is a mix of teaching, learning, and advocating.
It's either I am having physical session engaging my deaf pupils or engaging adult students taking sign language classes or having some engagement virtually with my sign language students or taking classes myself.
But beyond that, I also spend time creating content, raising awareness, and planning initiatives that promote inclusion and sign language learning.
Some days, it’s meetings, trainings, or community engagement. Other days, it’s just reaching one person and helping them understand the Deaf community better.
Truly, no two days are exactly the same but every day is centered around one goal which is breaking communication barriers and making the world more inclusive.
That means, you don't go a day without being you as an Educator, Advocate, Interpreter
It has honestly become difficult to go a day without expressing myself in these roles as they’re now a part of who I am.
However, I’m also intentional about balance. I make sure to take compulsory off days, some time to rest, recharge, and step away from the work. That way, I can show up better, stronger, and more effective in all that I do.
Yes o. That's necessary. Rest and Recharge
Everyone has a story right!?, how their journey in Sign Langauge started. Some are CODAs, some are SODAs, right?!
Some just pick interest in it at a young age or later on in life as they grow. For example, for me the Journey started in church and because of my love for languages and passion for people. I know many people will be interested in how your Journey into sign Language and deaf advocacy started. Tell us
Interestingly, I’m neither a CODA nor a SODA. My journey started at the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo.
I usually describe it as an “accidental career” because growing up, I never saw myself in this path. It wasn’t something I planned.
But as I got exposed to sign language and the Deaf community, something changed. The interest grew, the passion deepened, and what started almost by chance became a strong purpose for me.
Over time, that spark has now turned into a calling and that’s what has kept me going in Sign Language and Deaf Education and Advocacy
Was there a defining moment that made you say , "This is what I want to do”?
I would say the defining moment was during my teaching practice.
That was the first time I truly saw the impact of what I was doing. I was awarded Best Student Teacher and even got retained by the school and for me, that was a turning point.
It made me realize that even though I felt like I was just starting, there was already a level of excellence in me. That moment gave me clarity and confidence that this is not just something I can do, but something I’m meant to do.
Hmmmm. Clarity! What many crave for in today's world. The Industry is so blessed to have you
What challenges did you face early on that people don’t see today? and How has being a special educator shaped your perspective?
One of the major challenges I faced early on was truly understanding Deaf culture. I realized that just knowing how to sign wasn’t enough to be an effective communicator.
At the beginning, I was just signing, but I knew there was more. I wanted to get to a point where I could sit with a Deaf person and fully understand them, naturally and confidently.
So I immersed myself in learning sign language like my life depended on it. It wasn’t easy. it took time, patience, and a lot of intentional effort. (By the way, I am still learning)
But that journey shaped me deeply. Being a Deaf and special educator has changed my perspective. I’ve learned to listen without sound, to be more patient, more observant(just like my name), and more intentional in how I communicate. It has made me not just a better teacher, but a better human being overall.
I see what you did there😁
Quick One: Was that where you coined your nickname from?
Oh no. The nickname actually came before the challenge. ‘Observer Signs’ was already something I identified with, and the initiative was built around that identity. As you will know that Sign language relies heavily on observation-facial expressions, body movement, and some other visual components- so the name reflects the mindset needed to truly communicate effectively visually.
True. That make sense
When did you start the 30-Day Sign Language Challenge?
The 30 days challenge stated in the COVID 19 year. May 2020.
The 30-Day Sign Language Challenge is a yearly thing right? How many times does it happen in a year?
Yes, it is a yearly online challenge. It happens once in a year- every May 1st- 30th of every year.
What inspired the idea?
The idea was inspired by God, but also by a clear gap I noticed in the community. There are many people who can sign, but they don’t always have a platform to express or share their knowledge. At the same time, there are people eager to learn, yet they struggle to find accessible, Nigerian-based sign language content (especially).
So the 30 Days Sign Language Challenge was created to bridge that gap by giving signers a voice, helping learners access relevant content, and gradually building a kind of online dictionary while building a Community that signs
Hmmm. You really thought this through. Lovely and you've answered my next question already
At the time you started, what problem were you trying to solve?
I have said some part but let me add to that; at the start, I was focused on solving three key problems: lack of community, lack of accessible learning resources, and low awareness.
So the challenge was designed to build a strong signing community, create a kind of living sign language dictionary through daily content, connect signers with learners, and ultimately make communication with the deaf community more accessible.
Thanks for adding to that
Did you expect it to grow into a community movement? I feel like it has gone bigger, the input for the upcoming challenge which is starting May 1st has been massive. So many people wants to be involved, wants to participate
To be honest, no. I didn’t fully expect it to become this big. I believed in the idea, but the level of turnout surprised me. Even in the first year, during COVID, there was a noticeable surge in participation and acceptance.
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Since then, it’s grown year after year, and now, seeing how many people want to be part of the upcoming challenge, it really feels like a movement, not just a challenge.
I know right?! 😃 Even the newbies who are looking at learning kept asking me how they can join the Challenge... I mean "the movement"😊
I saw the whole energy, I had to start sharing the community link again and I believe it will get bigger than this. This is just the beginning.
Throughout the years of doing this challenge, have you had any funny or unexpected video you’ve seen from participants?
So many. I can’t even start listing them. But those funny and unexpected moments are part of what makes the challenge enjoyable.
However, sometimes, I and my team steps in to take down some videos so it doesn't mislead learners.
Yeahhh. That's necessary, Proper Monitoring and vetting should be done.
Have there been any emotional moments that stayed with you?
Yes, definitely. One of the most emotional things for me is seeing the level of commitment from participants; people who start the challenge and stay consistent all the way to the end.
I’ve also seen real connections come out of it. There have been cases where someone gets recommended for a job simply because of a video they shared, either on my page or theirs.
It’s inspiring because I can actually see their growth, confidence, and dedication over time. Those moments truly stay with me.
Awesome
How has the challenge impacted the deaf community and hearing participants?
It’s been really impactful. For the deaf community, there’s more visibility, more representation, and a stronger sense that people are making an effort to communicate inclusively.
For hearing participants, it’s been a learning and mindset shift. They are learning signs and becoming more aware and more confident in engaging with deaf individuals.
So it is learning a skill and building understanding on both sides.
I know there are a lot of process that goes into organizing this challenge every year, for me personally I see what you and the team are doing in the community, not to talk of what is going on in the background or behind the scene, what does it take to organize this challenge every year?
It’s quite a process, honestly. There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes; from planning the daily content and structuring the challenge, to engaging participants and managing the WhatsApp community
We also spend time reviewing videos, giving feedback, and making sure everyone feels supported throughout the journey.
And I have to say, it really takes a dedicated team. Their consistency and commitment are a big part of why the challenge runs successfully every time.
Shout out to your Team🥂 and Welldone
What’s the hardest part of running it?
The most challenging part is keeping the momentum going for everyone. Starting is easy, but helping participants stay consistent for 30 days takes a lot of effort.
Constant engagement, encouragement, and follow-up.
Right! Consistency is not easy but It's the key to winning. If everyone understand that deeply, it will brigde a litte gap. I've seen you follow up with participants in some of the previous editions. It's commendable👍
Have you ever felt like stopping? What kept you going?
There have been difficult moments, yes. But what keeps me going is the impact - seeing people grow, learn, and stay committed. That alone makes it worth continuing.
Mr Observer, If sign language were a ‘superpower,’ what would yours be?
Mine will be the power to break communication barriers completely and make understanding flow naturally between the deaf and Hearing Community.
Yeah? Taking away the struggle of Communication
Throughout your 10 years of being in the space, interpreting and advocating; I know you've met with a lot of top people in different sectors. If you had to teach a celebrity sign language, who would it be and why?
I’d love to teach Don Jazzy.
He has a huge influence across music and pop culture, and I believe that influence can help take sign language awareness much further. If someone like him embraces it publicly, it would significantly increase visibility and acceptance.
Like I knew that was who you were going to mention 😅😁🤟
Yeah, Definitely. Don Baba is a good choice
(Chuckles....😝😝)
What are your top 5 must-learn signs for beginners?
For beginners, learn to say your Name, then Hello, Thank you, Sorry and Please.
What should first-time participants expect in this year's edition?
It’s from May 1st to May 30th, and for first-time participants, they should expect an exciting and immersive experience.
For me, It’s not just about learning sign language; it’s about building consistency, joining a community, and gaining confidence in real communication. By the end of May, many participants will feel a noticeable difference in the way they communicate and interact with the deaf community.
How can someone join the challenge?
To join the challenge, the first step is to become part of our community.
Once you’re in, participants are guided through a structured daily process. Each person is expected to teach their audience two signs every day by creating short, simple videos and posting them on their social media platforms.
To maintain visibility and connection, we use official hashtags like #30DaysSignLanguageChallenge, #LittleButCount, #ObserverSigns, and #SignLanguage, and participants are encouraged to tag or collaborate with @observersigns depending on the platform.
We also encourage creativity- making the content engaging, visually appealing, and valuable enough that people can still learn from it even years later. We recommend simple editing tools like CapCut or InShot, and even basic captions to improve clarity.
Accuracy is also important, so participants are guided on correct sign formation, and if they are unsure, they can seek clarification or learn first before posting.
Overall, the focus is consistency, creativity, inclusion, and community engagement. It’s not just about posting; it’s about learning, teaching, and building a shared experience every day.
What advice would you give to someone who feels shy about participating?
I’d tell them it’s okay to be shy, but don’t let it stop you. Growth starts the moment you begin, and the community is there to support you every step of the way.
Once again, drop the hashtag(s) people should follow and use?
Participants should use #30DaysSignLanguageChallenge, along with #LittleButCount, #ObserverSigns, and #SignLanguage to stay connected and build visibility within the community.
Where do you see this challenge in the next 5 years?
In the next five years, I see it becoming a large-scale learning movement and a structured platform for sign language education, helping to bridge communication gaps and promote inclusion globally.
What’s your bigger dream for sign language awareness in Nigeria?
My bigger dream is for sign language to become widely recognized and respected in Nigeria, to the point where basic knowledge of it is common among hearing people.
I want a society where a deaf person can walk into any space and still communicate comfortably without barriers or isolation.
In the long run, I see a Nigeria where inclusion is intentional, and sign language is part of everyday education and culture
That's what we are all advocating for. And we hope one day, we will have a Nigeria of our Dream. Thank You For setting the foundation for others
If you could change one thing about how society treats the deaf community, what would it be?
I would change the perception. I want society to stop treating the deaf community as people who need pity, and instead recognize them as equal members of society who simply communicate differently.
That shift in mindset would lead to more inclusion, more respect, and better opportunities.
Yeah. That! It's everywhere. The society needs more sensitisation
Okay. we have come to the end but before we end our session, I want to know this; Personally, for you. What does all these mean to you?
Mr Observer. This last question, I want you to think deep before you give me an answer
Personally, it means purpose-building a community that signs, and ultimately bridging communication gaps, fostering inclusion, and creating real impact in people’s lives through sign language and community.
And I’m truly grateful for every participant, supporter, and member of the community who has believed in this vision and helped bring it to life.
Alright. Thank You, Mr Observer for making out of your busy Schedule to be here. Thank You for all your sacrifices for a decade and still counting
I believe the audience took away a lot of nuggets from this session like I did.
Enjoy the rest of your day. Bye for now.
You are very welcome Chief. Thank you so much. I really appreciate this.
CONVERSATION