FG Targets Digital Divide as Persons With Disabilities Complete Abuja Tech Training
The Federal Government has renewed its push for an inclusive digital economy after 50 persons with disabilities completed a two-day digital literacy training in Abuja, aimed at equipping them with practical technology skills to expand their participation in Nigeria’s digital space and reduce systemic barriers to access.
The programme, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) under its Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, focused on hands-on digital competencies designed to boost employability, entrepreneurship, and civic participation among people living with disabilities.
Speaking at the closing of the training, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa CCIE said the initiative underscores the agency’s resolve to mainstream accessibility into Nigeria’s digital transformation drive.
“Genuine digital advancement cannot be realised without the inclusion of persons with disabilities. Millions of Nigerians remain constrained by limited access to accessible and inclusive digital platforms,” he said.
Inuwa stressed that the digital divide is often driven by design and accessibility gaps rather than the absence of technology.
“Platforms that do not support assistive technologies, non-captioned content, and inaccessible websites effectively shut people out and limit opportunities,” he explained.
He linked the programme to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusion as a pillar of national development. “When equipped with the right skills and technologies, persons with disabilities become innovators, entrepreneurs, and professionals contributing meaningfully across sectors,” he added.
The NITDA chief also highlighted the agency’s long-term digital literacy targets, noting that the DL4ALL initiative is part of its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, which seeks to achieve 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030.
He outlined three pillars of the programme: an informal sector track that has trained more than 480,000 Nigerians across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory; an education track integrating digital skills into schools; and a workforce readiness track aimed at strengthening digital competence across public and private institutions.
“This programme is not merely a pilot. It is proof that inclusive and intentional training works and that persons with disabilities can excel when given equal opportunities,” Inuwa said.
The training was delivered in partnership with the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and SIMBED, which Inuwa praised as an example of effective collaboration between government and civil society in advancing inclusive development.
SIMBED Managing Director Daniel Onunkwo described the initiative as a practical step toward narrowing Nigeria’s digital inclusion gap, while IFA Executive Director Grace Jerry, represented by Tracy Agbamu, commended NITDA for aligning the intervention with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s inclusion priorities.
Participants are expected to serve as digital inclusion advocates within their communities, supporting NITDA’s broader vision of a digital ecosystem where access to opportunities is driven by empowerment and innovation rather than physical limitations.
