The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has pledged to support digital initiatives that cater specifically to persons with disabilities. Director-General Kashifu Abdullahi made this commitment during a stakeholder roundtable discussion with disability rights advocates in Abuja on Wednesday.
Mr. Abdullahi acknowledged that previous digital inclusion efforts did not adequately address the needs of Nigeria’s over 35 million individuals with disabilities. “I was surprised to learn that we have up to 35 million people with special needs in Nigeria. This emphasizes the need for us to design our programs with greater intention,” he said. “Achieving 95% inclusion is impossible if we exclude 35 million Nigerians.”
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He assured that NITDA would advocate for the representation of persons with disabilities in national digital development processes, stressing the importance of their voices in shaping relevant interventions. “We need to incorporate their needs into our standards immediately,” he added.
