Meet Nelson Jovial, NNAD National Vice President Aspirant

Written by Oluwasola Oladeji

Today’s spotlight is on Nelson Chukwuemeka Umezurike, popularly known as Nelson Jovial, who aspires to become the Deaf number two citizen by contesting as the National Vice Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria National Association of the Deaf (NNAD).

Little, however, is known about this enterprising, creative, and innovative Deaf young man, especially within the Nigeria Deaf Community and Inclusive News Network, who is here to report on his profile after a successful interview with him.

Born in Lagos to the families of Chief and Lolo Hyacinth Umezurike, who both hail from Emudo Nenwe Town in Aninri LGA of Enugu State of Nigeria, Nelson had his primary education at the EmmaVero Nursery and Primary School, Mushin, Lagos before the relocation of his parents to Abia State made him complete his Elementary school at the Over rail Primary School, Uzuakoli where he sat for his Common Entrance Examination, emerging as the best pupil of the state exam; an academic breakthrough that made him gain admission into the most prestigious high school in the South East of Nigeria, The Methodist Model College Uzuakoli, Abia State, an institution that has produced notable alumni/personalities with the likes of  Rt. Hon. Dr. Michael Okpara (Former Premier of Eastern Region, Nigeria), Sir Akanu Ibiam KCMG KBE (appointed as Governor of Eastern Region, Nigeria 1960 – 1966), Dr. Clement Isong (Former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, and Governor of Cross River State (1979–1983),  Rt. Hon. Sir Justice Egbert Udo Udoma (Former Judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Chief Justice of Uganda, Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Chairman of Nigeria’s 1978 Constituent Assembly) among other notable individuals; and where he obtained his senior school examination certificate and thus became the first and only deaf to date to pass out of that prestigious high school. Despite being Deaf, He represented his school in many organized educational competitions like the Cowbell National Mathematics competition, and his leadership qualities made him appointed as the Science Prefect of the school.

After finishing secondary school, Nelson Jovial earned a computer science degree at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) Abia State. While pursuing his undergraduate program, Nelson Jovial was privileged to serve as a System Analyst in an auxiliary staff capacity in the University ICT Centre known as the MOUAU ICT Resources Center (Formerly Known as AfriHUB MOUAU Park) after his undergraduate Industrial Training. During this time, he was part of the Step B Project Technical Team that set up the university-wide wireless network, set up the computer system for the university tertiary matriculation examination, computer-based testing (UTME/JAMB CBT) System and procurement & installed E-Learning System in university-wide offices and lecture rooms with the support of Hitachi Solutions.

Nelson Jovial as an undergraduate in 2014, configuring system ahead of JAMB/UTME CBT Exams

Jamb/UTME UI then in 2014

Nelson during his Industrial Training..

Nelson Jovial has always been passionate about fostering expression and critical thinking and has actively engaged in co-curricular activities to advance the civic good. On several occasions, he has served in the Core Adjudication Panel (CAP) and organizing committees, which put together debating championships nationally and continentally. A prime example is Nelson serving on the CAP for the 2017 edition of the Pan African Universities Debating Championship, University of Buea, Cameroon; the 2018 edition of the All Nigerian Universities Debating Championship, University of Ilorin; and the 2019 edition of Pan African Universities Debating Championship, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana 2019. To teach effective communication and youth advocacy skills, Nelson developed the Voice of Reason Nigeria and played a crucial part in facilitating the written and audiovisual content for the platform.

Nelson Jovial receiving an award of recognition after successfully tabulating the UNILORIN All Nigeria Universities Debating Championship 2018

Core Adjudication Team for the PAUDC 2017 with Nelson Jovial pictured

Nelson invited by FUTA Debate Club to serve on their Core Adjudication Panel for FUTA Debate Open

Core Adjudication Panel for the All Nigeria Universities Debate Championship (ANUDC), UNILORIN 2018

Photos of the Nigerian Contingent for the Pan African Universities Debate Championship (PAUDC) KUNST Ghana, 2019)

Photos with the Ghana contingent

Nelson’s involvement in various government and non-government disability-conscious agencies within the Nigeria Disability Community has been extensive. Noteworthy roles include serving as a data collector officer for the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Project Officer for the Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI), and a Board Member of the Dr. Chidi Topaz Olujie (CTO) Foundation.  He is contributing his expertise and time to upcoming Disability NGOs like the Alone, Not Lonely Women with Disability Initiative (ANLWWDI), and Voice of Disabilities Initiative (VDI).  Notably, Together with Hon Chidi Olujie and Eldad Monu, They all played a crucial role in the development of the Abia State Disability Bill.

L-R: Nelson Jovial, Fasasi Monsurat, Igwe Blessing and Ashiru Nagoma as ANLWWDI Volunteers for the recent #PadAGirl with Disability Project

Nelson Jovial with the Deaf Leaders of Enugu State after a Meeting ahead of the FG Nationwide Data Collection on behalf of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) 2021

Nelson Jovial supervising the upload and entry of the data collected from the entire Enugu State PWDs.

Screenshot of the recently adopted Abia State Disability Bill

As a Project Officer for Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI)

Nelson has been a mainstay in the Nigerian Deaf Community. His article in 2015, calling out against discrimination against a  Deaf Lady (Jane Ottah), was the catalyst for the viral advocacy resolve, which led to the massive public outcry against discrimination against the Deaf in accessing educational services. Nelson has since then become a dedicated volunteer for NNAD at the National Headquarters and some State Deaf Association, advocating for Deaf inclusion through his significant impact via Assistive Technological (AT) solutions and other  technical resources.  He developed the present-day official NNAD website in 2016 and has been at the forefront of providing technical assistance for the NNAD Sign Language development project. He was a member of the NNAD Constitution Review Committee and was also a member of  the NNAD 2023 WFD Bid Committee. At the state level, Nelson served amongst the Enugu State Board of Trustees, participating in the Constitutional Review and other administrative duties to chart the way forward for a better ENAD. As a Resident of the Abia State, he is a full member of the Abia State Association of the Deaf and he is presently a member of the ongoing South-East Nigeria Deaf Association (SENDA) Constitutional Review Committee.

L-R; Mal. Haruna, Dr. Chidi, Nelson, Engr. Timothy, Mal. Nasir presenting an award of meticulous

Nelson Jovial with the Nigeria Deaf foremost Educator, and Sign Language Author Dr. Tola Odusanya at the NNAD AGM Kano 2020

Nelson with NNAD Constitution Review Committee, UYO NNAD AGM 2021

Nelson Jovial with the Deaf Leaders of Enugu State after a Meeting ahead of the FG Nationwide Data Collection on behalf of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) 2021

Nelson Jovial at the NNAD Kano AGM 2020

Award of recognition from the Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) to Nelson Jovial)

Pre Testing the technical equipment for the NSL Project Uyo 2021

Nelson Jovial with Sir Idemudia Lawrence JP, NNAD HQ. BOT

Award of Recognition for Nelson Jovial from the NNAD

Nelson Jovial Poses with his Award

As an IT Consultant, Nelson is the CEO & Founder of Jovial Systems and Solution Limited, a registeres AT Solution outfit with a mandate to curb the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing essential services through the development of Assistive Technological Solutions in Nigeria/Africa. He is also the founder of other startups like the Jovial Micro-influencers. This solution boosts small SMEs and other innovative creatives’ visibility by increasing their online presence,  MySika, an upcoming Fintech Solution, was nominated for the preliminary stage of the year’s Total Energies Startupper of the year. Jovial System and Solutions also offers web and app development services, and over 15 clients trust them with their ICT solutions.

As part of promoting media inclusion and presence among people with disabilities, it should be noted that Nelson Jovial developed the widely acclaimed Inclusive News Network in 2017, which has grown to be the leading Disability News in Nigeria and Africa today.

Nelson’s success story is inspiring, and we at INN believe he has all it takes to bring about the much-needed innovation for the emancipation of the Nigerian deaf Community as the National Vice President of the Nigeria National Association of the Deaf (NNAD).