The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Abdullahi, has called for the inclusion of Nigerians with special needs in the design and implementation of national digital programmes.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the agency’s spokesperson, Hadiza Umar, Abdullahi stressed the importance of considering the over 35 million Nigerians living with special needs.
Speaking at an event in Abuja, Abdullahi harped on the need to tailor interventions for greater impact, saying the country needs to be more intentional in its focus.
“There is no way we can achieve 95% success when we exclude 35 million Nigerians. The current framework is very high-level, and that’s a gap we must address,” he said.
He emphasised that the needs of people with disabilities cannot be determined without their direct input.
“In all our programmes, we must remember that we have 35 million Nigerians with special needs. Their needs are unique and cannot be effectively addressed by decisions made in isolation.
“We must involve them in the design process to ensure our programmes truly serve everyone,” he added.
The NITDA boss reiterated the agency’s commitment to inclusive digital transformation, urging stakeholders to adopt participatory approaches that leave no one behind.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of Inclusive Friends, a leading disability rights organisation, Grace Jerry, emphasised the urgent need to address the digital literacy gap among Nigerians with disabilities.
The group represents over 35 million Nigerians living with disabilities, advocating for their rights and participation in all sectors of national development, not only in Nigeria but across Africa.
Jerry highlighted findings from a consultative forum held with various disability groups, aimed at assessing digital literacy within the disabled community.
She said, “More than 60 per cent of women with disabilities do not know how to power a computer, let alone navigate digital tools.”
She noted that this digital divide severely limits employment opportunities and broader inclusion for persons with disabilities.
Aligning with the Federal Government’s target of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, Jerry pointed out critical gaps within the National Digital Framework.
“We are undertaking a review and will submit recommendations to the National Information Technology Development Agency to ensure that digital literacy efforts are truly inclusive,” she said.
Jerry urged authorities to include persons with disabilities in policy formulation, stressing the importance of their direct involvement.
“There is nothing about us without us. Policies impacting our community must be co-created with our input to be effective,” she insisted.
