The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for the intentional inclusion of persons with special needs in Nigeria’s digital literacy and technology empowerment programmes, noting that an estimated 35 million people in this group must not be left behind.
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the call on Thursday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), a disability rights advocacy group led by its Executive Director, Ms. Grace Jerry.
Inuwa stressed that achieving the Federal Government’s target of 95% digital literacy by 2030 would be impossible without the full participation of persons with disabilities. He said the agency’s focus aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, which prioritizes inclusive economic growth.
“This meeting has brought to my attention the need to be more intentional in designing our programmes. We cannot aim for 95% digital inclusion while excluding over 35 million Nigerians,” Inuwa said.
He noted that while NITDA had previously conducted targeted training sessions for persons with disabilities across the country, there are now plans to scale up and institutionalise such initiatives nationwide.
The NITDA boss proposed the inclusion of disability advocates in national ICT committees tasked with developing standards, training curricula, and policy frameworks. According to him, this would ensure proper representation and drive implementation beyond bureaucracy.
He also suggested that disability-focused initiatives be integrated into major government programmes such as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) tech initiatives and women-focused digital cohorts—platforms that offer vital opportunities for networking, skills acquisition, and enterprise support.
“For us, it’s beyond just training. The real objective is empowerment—how people can use IT to grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods,” he added.
Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to strategic partnerships and invited disability-centered organisations to collaborate with the agency in building an inclusive digital economy.
In her remarks, IFA Executive Director Grace Jerry thanked the agency for its openness and highlighted the existing digital divide within the disability community.
“Digital literacy is now a foundational skill for employment. Without deliberate inclusion, millions of Nigerians with disabilities will be left behind,” she warned.
The engagement reflects NITDA’s growing commitment to inclusive policy design as part of Nigeria’s broader economic transformation agenda.
