In the wake of the just concluded two-day digital literacy workshop for people with disabilities (PWDs) in Abuja, the National Information Technology Development Agency reaffirmed its dedication to creating a truly inclusive digital future by reaching 70% digital literacy by 2027.
Fifty participants attended the event, which was organized under NITDA’s Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) project. Its main goal was to equip them with useful digital skills that would enable them to fully engage in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
Speaking at the program’s conclusion, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa said the effort reflected the agency’s determination to put inclusivity and accessibility at the center of Nigeria’s digital transformation process. In his view, real digital progress cannot be made if people with disabilities are not included in the tools and platforms that are influencing contemporary life.
He pointed that the training is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes inclusivity in the process of national development.
Inuwa emphasized that people with disabilities had to be viewed as capable contributors to Nigeria’s social and economic advancement rather than as dependents. He said millions of Nigerians still encounter unseen obstacles, not because technology is nonexistent but rather because accessibility is frequently overlooked in its design.
The DG highlighted the NITDA’s larger efforts in digital literacy, stating that the DL4ALL initiative is a key component of the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, which seeks to attain 75% digital literacy by 2027 and 95% by 2030.
Since September 2024, the initiative has trained over 480,000 Nigerians in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory through an informal sector program; an education-focused track that incorporates digital skills into educational institutions; and a workforce readiness program that aims to improve digital competency in the public and private sectors, he explained.
In addition, he praised the work of SIMBED and the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), calling the relationship a potent illustration of how government-civil society collaborations can produce inclusive, long-lasting effects.
Daniel Onunkwo, chief executive officer and managing director of SIMBED, also spoke and characterized the training as a critical step in bridging the digital inclusion gap for people with impairments. He stated that the program makes it abundantly evident that equality is crucial to the advancement of the country and that SIMBED is still dedicated to increasing PWDs’ access to digital empowerment opportunities.
