Kaduna Deaf Association elects New chairman, Plead sign language interpreters on national television to help improve understanding of sign language by the deaf and hard-of-hearing in the West African state of Kaduna, one of Nigeria’s largest deaf community.
The election, which was held at the Kaduna State Rehabilitation Board on Saturday, November 13, 2021,
Daily Episode observed a massive turnout of hearing-impaired voters from all the twenty-three local governments of Kaduna state.
The elections were conducted peacefully by Elcom and supervised by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development.
However, the elections turned in favor of Comrade Muhammed Musa Illiya, who emerged victorious after the voting and counting process.
In an interview with the Daily Episode, Comrade Muhammed thanked his campaign team, supporters, the Kaduna state government, and the Nigerian security forces for a job well done in allowing a credible, free, and fair election which led to his emergence as the president-elect.
He, however, urges his predecessors and other aspirants who lost the election to embrace peace and work as a team to support one another to see the victory of the association as well as their respective members.
Chaos during the election
Some of the aggrieved members of the Nigerian National Association of the Deaf, Kaduna state chapter, expressed displeasure with the voting process during the election, which almost erupted into violence, but the officials and the management of the Kaduna State Rehabilitation Board calmed the situations that resulted in a peaceful voting and counting process.
However, Orshalima Dio, one of the aspirants who contested for the chairmanship positions, narrated to the Daily Episode that the Elcom tried their best, but some members were not happy with the chairmanship’s result.
But he enjoyed his supporters’ being law-abiding and accepting the electoral result for peace to prevail.
Mr. Dio, who believes he can impact the lives of Kaduna State deaf and other physically challenged people with or without him being the chairman.
He further encouraged members to be committed to the development they envisioned for their association.
Disability Rights Law
Comrade Haruna Muhammad, National Vice President of the Nigerian National Association of the Deaf, cried out against the non-inclusion of sign language interpreters on national television despite Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, signing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, into law after years of advocacy and struggle.
Mr. Haruna cried about how disability had become a barrier in their lives, but they are now ready and working to be great as they work to end disability discrimination.
He further pleaded that sign language would be included in the Nigerian curriculum.
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