Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency has moved to strengthen digital accessibility for persons with disabilities after a study found that fewer than half of about 30 government digital platforms assessed met the required accessibility threshold.
NITDA made the commitment during a meeting with the Centre for Inclusive Development, which presented findings from its research into the accessibility of digital platforms used by Nigerians with disabilities.
The study found that only 47 per cent of the government platforms assessed met the required accessibility standard, highlighting gaps that could prevent persons with disabilities from independently accessing essential digital services.
Representing NITDA’s Director-General, Dr Ayodeji Eniola, the agency’s Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Inuwa, said the findings were consistent with NITDA’s mandate to ensure that Nigerians are not excluded from the country’s digital transformation.
He said NITDA was prepared to work with CID to improve digital accessibility and strengthen standards across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
According to him, the agency has already identified gaps affecting persons with disabilities in its digital literacy framework and is working to address them.
NITDA is also considering the development of national accessibility standards, while accessibility requirements have already been incorporated into revised website guidelines for government institutions.
Inuwa said NITDA’s digital literacy programme, which targets 70 per cent digital literacy nationwide by 2027, is being implemented across schools, the informal sector and the workforce.
He said the agency’s objective was to ensure that digital skills and access extend to Nigerians regardless of their circumstances.
Presenting the research, disability rights advocate, lawyer and researcher Tracy Onabis Agbamu said the assessment showed that accessibility remained a major challenge across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
NITDA was among the government platforms that performed strongly in the assessment, which Agbamu attributed to the agency’s efforts towards digital inclusion.
However, she said significant barriers remained on private-sector platforms, particularly in banking, fintech and payment services.
Agbamu warned that inaccessible digital financial services could force persons with disabilities to depend on other people to carry out transactions on their behalf, potentially exposing their personal and financial information to privacy and security risks.
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She stressed that digital inclusion should go beyond teaching people how to use technology, saying digital platforms must also be designed to work with assistive technologies and allow users with disabilities to access services independently.
The Centre called for NITDA’s support in developing guidance for accessibility statements on government websites and incorporating accessibility requirements into public procurement and licensing frameworks.
It also sought the agency’s technical support in developing and validating a national digital accessibility standard for Nigeria.
The engagement comes as government agencies and private businesses increasingly move essential services online, making accessibility a growing concern for Nigerians who depend on digital platforms to access government, financial, educational and other services.
NITDA said it was willing to deepen its collaboration with CID on digital literacy and accessibility as Nigeria expands its digital economy.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
