NNAD's ELECTION 2024: Much Ado About Dr. Chidi's Residency Brouhaha

By Yusuf Mohammed Lawn, Gombe 

Barely three months away to the much anticipated Nigerian National Association of the  Deaf (NNAD)'s general election which is billed to hold in Ogun state come September 2024. A lot of noises have been made, albeit unnecessarily, about the permanent residency of Dr.  Chidi Topaz  Olujie , the incumbent NNAD's president and a topnotch contender of the coveted presidential seat in the coming election. 

 In this piece, we peep into the historical background of the man whose residency status has been dragged into the murky waters of controversy by some unscrupulous elements within NNAD who are out to create tension and division within the planks and ranks of thriving Deaf Nigerians  mainly to achieve vested political interests. 

Born on 11th Octber 1987 in Lagos state, to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Topaz Olujie, a successful  Igbo  business mogul and descendent of the ancestral royal family from Akwete village of Ukwa East Local government,  Abia state, south East Nigeria. 

The Young Chidi started his earlier education at M D Special School in Lagos where he obtained his first school leaving certificate, thereafter he proceed to Methodist Grammar School, Ibadan and capped it all with both Degree and Masters at the University of Ibadan before moving to the Northcentral UNiversity in the UK to obtain his Ph. D in Special Education 

Before doing his mandatory national youth service at the National Human Right Commission he had a long stint working in his Father's company, Sunhill Investment LLC. He also worked as a staff of Federal Ministry of Education for some years before becoming a Sub teacher at MSSD, Gallaudet University, United States of America. He is also serving as a freelance interpreter. Dr. Chidi is now flying his trade as a staff in the Office of Disability Rights and Washington DC Mayor.

"According to his long time Personal Assistant and childhood friend (Nelson Chukwuemeka Umezurike) who is fondly known as Nelson Jovial, "Dr. Chidi, Mr. Nelson Chukwuemeka Umezurike, Hon. Dr. Chidi Olujie is a Techprenuer, a Philanthropist, a Leader, a politician and a man of many personalities.  As a Techprenuer, He is the Founder of MOVIFY, an Uber-like app that is set to launch in Africa to seamlessly handle Taxi & Cab Booking, Medical Emergencies, Food and other Logistic delivery"

"Hon. Dr. Chidi Topaz Olujie, was born on 11th Octber 1987, he is an alumunus of the  North Central University USA where he obtained his Ph.D in EdD. He is also an Alunumus of the prestigious University of Ibadan where he obtained both his BSc. and MSc. Degree Certificates"

Adding that, "As a Natural philantropist. Hon. Dr. Chidi Olujie is the Founder of the Chidi Topaz Olujie Foundation, an NGO that has brought succour to many individuals by providing Food, Medical, Educational and other relief aids to its numerous beneficiaries"

"Hon Chidi Topaz Olujie is Natural born Leader and politician.  He is presently the National President of the Nigerian National Association of the Deaf, Coordinator Coalition of Person with Disability for presidential candidate 2019 & 2023 PDP preliminary, candidate for the Abia State House of Assembly, Ukwa-East Constituency. Hon. Chidi is proficient in wide range of sign language like the Nigerian Sign Language, American Sign Language, serve as Deaf Interpreter in the Universal sign Language and hold a certificate in International Sign Language" he noted

 Obviously, Dr. Chidis doggednes and contribution to the growth of NNAD was largely recognized and equally appreciated not only by the Nigerian Deaf community but also the World Federation of the  Deaf (WFD) which is the reason he was recently entrusted with the mandate to head the Western and Central Africa Region (WCAR) serving as its president,  the first ever WCAR president of Nigerian extraction, if he was not considered a permanent resident of Nigeria he won't be considered to represent Nigeria and NNAD in the WFD. It's lamentable to see some educated Nigerians clamping down on his permanent residency status for merely been a shuttler from Nigeria to USA from time to time.  Such action is a highest form of unpatriotism and a slap to nnad's international prestige. We lament.

According to some of Dr. Chidis ignoramus critics, his shuttling from Nigeria to USA automatically disqualified him from presiding over NNAD affairs. Some even sees his partial residence in the  USA as a permanent one ,and to them he must cease from holding the office of the president and must not be allowed to recontest for such office even though they can not pinpoint a single section of NNAD's constitution to justify their falsefied claims. 

Consequently, for the sake of clarity,  this article boldly assert without fear of contraction that Dr. Chidis permanent residency status is tied to Nigeria,  his both place and Not the USA, he is legally carrying the Nigerian passport and not passport of the USA as wrongly circulated by some political jobbers, he born and raised in Nigeria to the Nigerian parents, ninety eight percent of his schooling was in Nigeria as explained above,  he loved Nigerian attire which is why he is always seeing in his trademark traditional Igbo attire, he fancies Nigerian food, his love for Nigeria and especially Deaf Nigerians is second to non.