In a significant step towards promoting digital inclusivity, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has called for increased inclusion of persons with special needs in the agency’s policies and programs.
It was reported tha,t this advocacy is aimed at implementing the Presidential priority area of Reforming the Economy for Sustained Inclusive Growth.
Speaking during a strategic meeting with a delegation from the Inclusive Friends Association, a disability advocacy group led by Executive Director, Grace Jerry, Inuwa acknowledged the need for intentional design of NITDA’s initiatives to address the needs of an estimated 35 million Nigerians with special needs. He emphasized that achieving 95% digital inclusion would be impossible without considering this significant segment of the population. He said ” This brought to my attention the need to be more intentional in the way we design our programs because the is no way we can achieve 95 % digital inclusion if we exclude 35 million Nigerians”.
Inuwa further noted that while NITDA has conducted targeted training for people with special needs in various parts of the country, the agency is committed to expanding these initiatives to all regions. “If you look at our office, we have facilities to cater for that, and in our recruitment, we make sure we take care of that. But now, we must go further and make sure our programs reflect this inclusion,” he assured.
However, to ensure effective representation, the DG proposed that representatives from the disability community be formally included in committees that develop national ICT standards, training curricula, and policy frameworks. He emphasized that their presence would not only represent their interests but also strengthen implementation by pushing beyond government bureaucracy.
NITDA Champions Inclusive Empowerment and Strategic Partnerships to Bridge the Digital Divide for Nigerians with Special Needs
Inuwa further suggested exploring avenues to integrate special needs considerations into national initiatives such as the NYSC tech programs, women’s training cohorts, and upcoming national tech conferences. These platforms, he pointed out, provide valuable opportunities for networking, skills development, and enterprise support.
The DG emphasized that NITDA’s goal goes beyond training, focusing on empowerment and enabling individuals to use IT to expand their businesses and improve their lives. “For us, it’s beyond just training. The real goal is empowerment, how we can train people to use IT to expand their businesses and improve their lives?” Inuwa stated.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to strategic collaboration and invited disability organizations to serve as partners in shaping a digital economy that works for all Nigerians. “Whatever you do, you need IT as a tool. So, let us make sure everyone, regardless of ability, is equipped to use it,” he concluded.
Earlier, Ms. Jerry thanked NITDA for receiving them and highlighted a significant divide within the disability community, particularly among women in northern Nigeria. She emphasized the urgency of ensuring that the government’s ambition of achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030 is truly inclusive by ensuring adequate representation of people living with special needs in ongoing reviews and monitoring of the framework’s implementation.
Ms. Jerry stressed the need for inclusive representation of their community in tailored programs and collaborative policymaking, saying, “Digital literacy is fast becoming a foundational skill for employment, and without deliberate inclusion, millions will be left behind.”
Undoubtedly, this development marks a crucial step towards creating a more inclusive digital landscape in Nigeria, where persons with special needs can access opportunities and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
To learn more about this groundbreaking inclusivity initiative and how you can support digital empowerment for Nigerians with special needs, visit LouisaOlaniyi.com.ng. Together, let’s build a digital Nigeria for everyone.
