By Jessica Dogo
Abuja – The ChamsConsortium, a subsidiary of Chams Plc, says it is seeking collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to set up a Gallaudet University in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the organisation, Mr Ademola Aladekomo, made this known on Thursday in Abuja when he led a delegation of the organisation to NCC’s headquarters.
Aladekomo explained that the university would be a bilingual, diverse and multicultural institution of higher learning, for the professional advancement of the deaf, deaf-blind and hard-of-hearing individuals in the society.
He also said that over 10 million Nigerians were in the category of people with disabilities, adding that the development would help the affected people to also feel very important and wanted in the society.
The Chairman also said the collaboration would include a national video relay service which the company had pioneered to ensure Nigerians had increased access to telecoms services.
Responding, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, reiterated NCC’s readiness to support any initiative aimed at ensuring universal access to telecommunication services by Nigerians.
Danbatta, who was represented by Ubale Maska, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, however said that the issue of setting up a university was outside the mandate of the commission.
The executive vice chairman noted that the commission would be willing to have a formal proposal regarding the national video relay service for appropriate review.
He said that NCC would continue to ensure that projects, programmes and requests for partnership connected with NCC’s mandates were reviewed and considered for necessary support within its budgetary provisions.
“As a commission, we have a mandate to ensure availability of universal services in all nooks and crannies of the country.
“This will ensure that all Nigerians, regardless of their circumstances and locations, have access to telecoms services, either voice or data, and we are committed to the fulfillment of this mandate,” Danbatta said.
