The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to building an inclusive digital economy by dismantling barriers to employment, education, and public services for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Speaking in Lagos at the opening of the Digital Citizenship Training for Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman emphasised that digital transformation must be people-centered, accessible, and inclusive. Represented by Helen A. Obi, Director of the NCC’s Digital Economy Department, Maida noted that technology must create opportunities rather than new obstacles for vulnerable groups.
Addressing the theme “Empowering Persons with Disabilities Through Digital Citizenship for an Inclusive Digital Economy,” the regulator stressed that digital inclusion requires more than basic internet access. True inclusion encompasses affordable devices, reliable broadband, protective digital skills, and accessible software platforms. Citing World Health Organisation estimates that 1.3 billion people globally live with significant disabilities, the NCC warned that high connectivity costs, inaccessible products, employment discrimination, and skill deficits continue to drive digital exclusion across the country.
To counter these barriers, the commission is expanding several targeted interventions. Through its E-Accessibility Project and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), the NCC delivers ICT tools, e-health platforms, and assistive technologies to specialised institutions and underserved communities. Additionally, research funded through the NCC Professorial Chair Initiative has produced practical innovations, such as a smart walking-stick prototype for the visually impaired, while the recent 4th NCC Hackathon, themed “Technology Without Barriers,” focused on scaling accessible software solutions.
Ultimately, the digital citizenship workshop aims to equip participants with practical competencies in online safety, personal data protection, scam recognition, and digital rights. By building these skills, the NCC seeks to ensure that physical disability no longer restricts a citizen’s ability to secure employment, access public services, acquire an education, or run a business in Nigeria’s evolving digital landscape.
