NITDA Deepens Push for Inclusive Digital Access for PWDs

NITDA Deepens Push for Inclusive Digital Access for PWDs

FELICIA OLADELE, Abuja

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has intensified efforts to expand digital inclusion for persons with disabilities (PWDs) with the completion of a two-day digital literacy training programme in Abuja.

The training, organised under NITDA’s Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, provided 50 participants with hands-on digital skills designed to boost their participation in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy and reduce long-standing access gaps.

Speaking at the programme, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, said the initiative reflects the agency’s resolve to embed accessibility into Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda rather than treat it as an afterthought.

He stressed that digital development remains incomplete if a segment of the population is excluded, noting that barriers faced by persons with disabilities are often linked to poor design and limited accessibility rather than the absence of technology.

“In many cases, the problem is not the absence of digital tools but the lack of accessibility,” Inuwa said.

He explained that digital platforms that fail to support assistive technologies, captioned content and accessible website designs continue to shut out persons with disabilities, thereby limiting their economic and social opportunities.

According to him, the programme is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusivity as a foundation for sustainable national development. He noted that with the right skills and tools, persons with disabilities can play active roles in driving economic growth.

“When equipped with the right skills and technologies, persons with disabilities become innovators, entrepreneurs and professionals who contribute meaningfully across sectors,” he said.

Inuwa also highlighted NITDA’s broader digital literacy efforts, explaining that the DL4ALL initiative forms part of the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, which targets 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030.

He added that the programme operates across the informal sector, education system and workforce readiness tracks, and has trained more than 480,000 Nigerians across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory since September 2024.

Describing the training as evidence of what intentional inclusion can achieve, Inuwa said the outcome demonstrates that persons with disabilities can excel when given equal access to skills and opportunities.

The NITDA Director-General commended Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and SIMBED for their collaboration, describing the partnership as a practical model of how government and civil society can work together to advance inclusive development.

Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SIMBED, Mr Daniel Onunkwo, described the training as an important step towards narrowing the digital inclusion gap for persons with disabilities, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to expanding digital empowerment initiatives.

Similarly, the Executive Director of Inclusive Friends Association, Mrs Grace Jerry, represented by Tracy Agbamu, praised NITDA for demonstrating purposeful leadership on inclusion and urged participants to apply the skills acquired while promoting digital access within their communities.