The Nigerian Communications Commission has called for stronger efforts to ensure persons with disabilities are not left behind in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
The NCC made the call in collaboration with CBM International Nigeria during a two-day Digital Citizenship Training for Persons with Disabilities in Lagos.
The programme, which brought together persons with disabilities, government representatives, development partners and other stakeholders, focused on improving participants’ digital skills, online safety awareness and ability to participate in the digital economy.
The training was themed, “Empowering Persons with Disabilities Through Digital Citizenship for an Inclusive Digital Economy.”
Representing the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, the Director of the Commission’s Digital Economy Department, Helen Obi, said digital development would only be meaningful if accessibility and inclusion were prioritised.
She said technology had become essential to education, communication, commerce, public services and financial transactions, but noted that persons with disabilities still encountered significant obstacles.
“Digital inclusion must therefore encompass accessibility, affordability, digital skills, safety and meaningful use,” Obi said.
She cited World Health Organisation data indicating that about 1.3 billion people globally, or one in six people, live with a significant disability.
Obi explained that digital citizenship involved more than knowing how to operate a smartphone or computer, saying it also required the ability to stay safe online, protect personal information, identify scams and misinformation, secure digital identities and understand digital rights and responsibilities.
She added that technology could help persons with disabilities overcome barriers to education and employment, expand access to entrepreneurship and remote work, and improve access to information and public services.
“For Persons with Disabilities, technology can remove barriers to education and employment, support entrepreneurship and remote work, improve access to information and public services, and promote greater independence through assistive technologies,” she said.
The Country Programme Manager of CBM International Nigeria, Michael Idah, said the organisation remained committed to promoting disability-inclusive development across both the public and private sectors.
Idah stressed that training alone would not be sufficient unless participants could convert their newly acquired skills into sustainable economic opportunities.
He said the real impact of the initiative should be measured by the emergence of employment opportunities, systemic improvements and infrastructure that could be accessed by persons with disabilities.
Also speaking, the Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Orientation at the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, Dr Adekola Oluwafunmilayo, described the partnership with the NCC as an important step towards improving digital skills and economic empowerment among persons with disabilities.
Adekola said better access to skills could strengthen the financial independence and overall well-being of persons with disabilities.
She, however, noted that some disability-owned businesses were operating informally, making it difficult for their owners to benefit from certain financial opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education disclosed that 16,000 Nigerians had so far enrolled in the first cohort of its Digital Training Academy.
The ministry said the free programme was designed to provide young Nigerians with globally recognised digital skills as part of efforts to develop a workforce capable of competing in the international digital economy.
It added that the initiative complemented other government investments aimed at expanding digital skills development across the country.
