INTRODUCTION:
Dear esteemed members of Nigerian Deaf Community, having followed, watched and reviewed the ongoing trends and events unfolding in the leadership of the Nigeria National Association of the Deaf(NNAD),National Headquarters, Abuja especially the recent built-up to our supposed peaceful and historical AGM/IWD/ELECTION in Edo State, I Julius Shemang, (PenMan),an Adventitious Deaf Nigerian from Kaduna State in the North West region, and with deepest sense of humour, respect, humility, dedication and determination and with painstaking drive, thus wish to declare that I am contesting for the Presidency of our beloved NNADHQ. I joined the services of NNAD in the year 2000, albeit the need for collective struggles in liberating Deaf Community. Thanks to the NNAD Kaduna now Kaduna State Association of the Deaf (KASAD) and members of the Deaf Community who offered useful advice and encouragement which inevitably led to my membership enrolment in the State.
WHY I AM CONTESTING FOR THE POST OF NATIONAL PRESIDENT:
Before the Minna 2011 AGM/ELECTION, there had been complaints in various quarters that the NNADHQ is lagging behind in leadership accountability and transparency as well as leadership structures. If giving the mandate to lead and direct your affairs at the Headquarters, (WE will) not (I will) work together to achieve the followings:
(1). First and foremost, we plan and intend to bring CHANGE in the NNAD leadership structures at national level thereby putting an end to the unnecessary tenure elongation and crisis. To do this, the NNAD national constitution particularly the section dealing with AGM/Election will be looked into and reviewed alongside other thorning issues to make it gender and regionally more inclusive and balanced.
(2). A periodical compilation and circulation of NNAD financial and other activities reports to keep state branches and members abreast will be the focus of the new leadership.
(3). Securing a permanent office for NNADHQ in Abuja.
(4). The NNADHQ Magazine which should ideally serve as an advocacy tool for Deaf Nigerians while generating income for the organization, will be revamped to full capacity. In that an independent editorial board comprising of able Deaf men and women from the six geo-political zones of our country working in partnership with other organizations both locally and internationally will be set up to manage its affairs.
(5). NNADHQ under me will for the first time create a space in the office of the President for appointment of a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) and Special Assistants(SAs), in line with the need to bring practical CHANGES by giving our people a sense of belonging while carrying them along in the affairs of the organization.
(6). We will in the spirit of unity and onerous task of being accountable to our people create and maintain a befitting village square or listserv (e-mail group)for Deaf Nigerians in the office of the Secretary General to be co-moderated with the NPRO under my watch. The listserv will be a formidable platform for information sharing/dissemination for all Deaf Nigerians both at home and abroad and our partners in NIDETA and ASLIN, others.
(7). As people friendly regime with open door policies,we will work mostly through committees of able men and women cutting across the six geopolitical zones of the country, thereby giving our youths and women better and fair representation. Example of such committees include Education, Proposals, Activities/Events Planning, Advisory, Monitoring/Evaluation &Implementation, among others.
(8). My tenure will work positively and in partnership with other Deaf organizations and NGOs to put a stop to unemployment among Deaf. We shall work hard to facilitate skills and vocational training, work with Banks to assist Deaf Entrepreneurs and encourage Deaf sports, Artisans and others to be more productive.
(9). Various academic and scholars papers presented on Deafness issues at various conferences and Seminars, etc, will now be edited into books and booklets and sold for incomes. Besides, we will pursue a welfare ideology that will influence the Deaf to love NNAD including our diaspora colleagues and make them want to contribute to make it a pride for all.
(10). Giving the mandate, my tenure will be that of rebranding and repositioning of Deaf image. We shall try our possible best to create an enabling environment for Deaf to thrive. We shall continue with the "Deaf Manifesto" and ensure that the Deaf have political voice and participation in governance by parley with the government and political parties, INEC and the States and National Assembly. Apart from this, quality enriching, cross-fertilization platforms will be raised via workshops, seminars, exhibitions and capacity building, all of which will enrich the Deaf Community.
(11). NNAD under me will raise a committee to find land for Deaf Caring Guests and Conference Centre. If we can get land allocation from the federal government we shall draw an architecture of a befitting Deaf House in Abuja where Hotels will be cheap for Deaf if built and we can generate income from rentage of conference Halls, Hotels and Suites.
(12). In order to peacefully unite to collaboratively advocate for disability Policy Changes in Nigeria that includes Nigeria signing into law, Nigerians with disabilities Rights Bill with an essential, independent COMMISSION, we will work hard to correct the seeming lack of atom of peace, unity, networking and collaboration among the JONAPWD Headquarter, her State Chapters, Clusters, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the entire 25.5 million Nigerians with disabilities.
(13). We will position the NNAD Headquarter to become one of the lead champions for 25.5 million Nigerians with disabilities in advocating, lobbying and negotiating with the Federal Republic of Nigeria to continue implementation of the UNCRPD and SDGs by signing into law, Nigerians with disabilities Rights Bill with an essential, independent Commission while registering the NNAD to directly become part of internationally recognized DPOs, African Disability Forum, United Nations, the African Union, etc.
(14). Knowing that PEACE is the pre-requisite for development in any leadership, we hope to tackle disunity and conflicts in the NNAD family by appointing a committee of Elders as a roadmap.
ABOUT ME:
1. High moral standards
2. Good team player
3. Silent achiever
4. Calm but dispositionately firm
5. Ability to influence people positively
6. A non-religious and tribalisted person who believe in human equality without bias or discrimination
7. A volunteer and servant leader with passion 8. Dedicated, honest,and accountable personality
9. A non-corrupt person who has not been found wanting
10. Accountability and Transparency in leadership are always my watch words
11. Talking less, Acting more
POSITIONS AND COMMITTEES HELD
1. Publicity Secretary, NNAD Kaduna 2. Secretary General, NNAD Kaduna. 3. Coordinator, NNAD North West Zone
4. Vice Chairman 1, JONAPWD Kaduna Branch
5. Current Chairman, JONAPWD Kaduna.
6. Secretary, Monitoring & Evaluation Committee of Kaduna State Association of the Deaf USAID/DDI Project.
7. Initiator/Member, Kaduna State Persons with disability Rights Bill Review committee.
8. Publisher, KAFANCHAN TIMES, a community based newspaper that focus in all spheres of human endeavours.
OUR PRAYER FOR A BETTER NNAD FOR ALL:
Nigeria is blessed with multitudes of intelligent and talented Deaf youths whose potentials are capable of turning things around for the benefit of generations. Since our country Nigeria through her people of which our community is a part and parcel, asked for CHANGE and this CHANGE has come to stay, so let it be in NNAD leadership. The only way to go about bringing this CHANGE is for you to give me your mandate to delivers!
Vote SHEMANG aka PENMAN for National President (NP).
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