Nigeria Trains 50 People With Disabilities in Digital Skills

Fifty people with disabilities in Abuja just gained new pathways into Nigeria's digital economy, thanks to a groundbreaking training program that refuses to leave anyone behind.

The National Information Technology Development Agency wrapped up a two-day digital literacy bootcamp focused entirely on practical skills. Participants learned to navigate digital platforms, use assistive technologies, and build competencies that employers actually need.

"Genuine digital advancement cannot be realized without the inclusion of persons with disabilities," said NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa. He pointed out that millions of Nigerians face a frustrating reality: digital tools exist, but they're often built without accessibility in mind.

Websites without screen reader support, videos without captions, and platforms that ignore assistive technology effectively lock people out of opportunities. This training flips that script by teaching participants how to work around barriers while also advocating for better design.

The program aligns with President Bola Tinubu's focus on inclusive development. When people with disabilities gain digital skills, they become entrepreneurs, innovators, and professionals contributing across every sector of the economy.

NITDA didn't work alone. The Inclusive Friends Association and SIMBED partnered to deliver the training, creating a model for how government and civil society can collaborate on inclusion.

The Ripple Effect

This training represents just one piece of NITDA's ambitious vision. The agency's Digital Literacy for All initiative has already trained over 480,000 Nigerians across 30 states, targeting 70 percent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 percent by 2030.

The program operates across three tracks: informal sector workers, students in schools, and workforce development for public and private employees. Each track recognizes that digital literacy looks different depending on where people are starting from.

"This is proof that inclusive and intentional training works," Inuwa emphasized. When given equal opportunities and the right tools, people with disabilities excel at the same rate as everyone else.

The 50 graduates aren't just walking away with new skills for themselves. They're expected to become digital inclusion advocates in their own communities, spreading knowledge and pushing for more accessible platforms.

SIMBED Managing Director Daniel Onunkwo called the training a critical step toward closing Nigeria's digital inclusion gap. Grace Jerry from the Inclusive Friends Association praised NITDA for making inclusion more than just a buzzword.

Nigeria's vision is clear: access to digital opportunities should never be determined by physical ability, only by empowerment and innovation.