Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has expressed its readiness to strengthen collaboration with the Centre for Inclusive Development (CID) to advance digital accessibility and ensure persons with disabilities are included in the country’s digital transformation.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by CID to NITDA, where the organisation presented findings from its research on digital accessibility for persons with disabilities and discussed opportunities for stronger standards and greater inclusion across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Representing NITDA’s Director General, Dr Ayodeji Eniola, the Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Inuwa, said the findings aligned with the agency’s mandate to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind in the country’s digital transformation.
Inuwa said NITDA’s digital literacy programme, which targets 70 per cent digital literacy nationwide by 2027, is being implemented across schools, the informal sector, and the workforce. He said the agency is focused on ensuring that digital skills and access reach Nigerians regardless of their status.
He added that NITDA had identified gaps affecting persons with disabilities within its digital literacy framework and had begun efforts to address them. The agency is also looking to advance the development of national accessibility standards, while accessibility considerations have already been incorporated into its revised website guidelines for government institutions.
Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s willingness to deepen its collaboration with CID, particularly around digital literacy and accessibility. He said stronger measures are needed to ensure that digital technologies can effectively serve all Nigerians.
Presenting the research findings, Nigerian disability rights advocate, lawyer and researcher Tracy Onabis Agbamu said the study assessed about 30 government digital platforms and found that only 47 per cent met the required accessibility threshold.
NITDA was identified among the platforms that performed strongly in the assessment, with Agbamu attributing the agency’s performance to its efforts towards digital inclusion.
The research also identified significant accessibility challenges on private-sector platforms, particularly across the banking, fintech and payments sectors. Agbamu said such barriers could force persons with disabilities to rely on third parties to access digital financial services, potentially creating privacy and security risks.
Agbamu stressed that digital inclusion extends beyond providing citizens with digital skills, noting that digital platforms must also be designed to support assistive technologies and enable independent access.
She called for NITDA’s support in developing guidance on accessibility statements for government websites, incorporating accessibility requirements into procurement and licensing frameworks, and promoting accessibility standards across critical sectors.
The Centre also sought NITDA’s technical support in developing and validating a national digital accessibility standard for Nigeria. The engagement highlighted the need for accessibility to remain a central component of Nigeria’s digital transformation as the country expands digital services and participation in the digital economy.
