NITDA Moves to Make Nigeria’s Digital Economy More Accessible to Persons With Disabilities
By Iroyin Yoruba Television News Desk
Nigeria's digital transformation programme is entering a new phase in which the government is placing greater emphasis on whether people with disabilities can actually use the websites, online services and digital platforms being created across the country.
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has expressed readiness to work with the Centre for Inclusive Development to strengthen digital accessibility and develop measures aimed at preventing persons with disabilities from being excluded from Nigeria's expanding digital economy.
The development followed a presentation by the Centre for Inclusive Development, CID, on research examining the accessibility of digital platforms used by Nigerians with disabilities.
According to NITDA, the research identified substantial accessibility gaps across government and private-sector platforms, prompting discussions around stronger standards, digital-literacy programmes, procurement requirements and broader accessibility rules.
The assessment reportedly examined about 30 government digital platforms, with only 47 per cent meeting the required accessibility threshold.
The research also identified significant barriers on private-sector platforms, particularly in the banking, fintech and payment sectors.
NITDA said it was particularly interested in developing stronger national accessibility standards and incorporating accessibility considerations into the wider digital transformation framework. Accessibility requirements have already been incorporated into the agency's revised website guidelines for government institutions, according to the agency.
The development comes as NITDA pursues a separate national target of achieving 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 through its Digital Literacy for All, or DL4ALL, programme.
The latest accessibility initiative adds another dimension to that target.
Knowing how to use a smartphone or computer is one part of digital inclusion.
Being able to independently access a government website, banking application, payment platform, online learning system or other digital service is another.
For persons with disabilities, the second issue can determine whether digital skills translate into actual participation.
The New Accessibility Concern
Nigeria has spent recent years expanding digital public services.
Citizens increasingly interact with government agencies through websites, online forms, electronic payment systems, identity platforms, portals and digital applications.
Businesses have similarly moved many services online.
Banks and fintech companies allow customers to transfer money, pay bills, open accounts and manage financial services through mobile applications.
Schools and training organisations increasingly use digital platforms.
Employers advertise vacancies online.
Health information is increasingly distributed through digital channels.
For many Nigerians, these changes can make services faster and more convenient.
But convenience depends on accessibility.
A website that cannot be navigated with a keyboard can create difficulties for someone who cannot use a conventional mouse.
A form that does not work properly with screen-reading software can create barriers for people with visual impairments.
An online video without captions can exclude people with hearing impairments.
Images without appropriate alternative text can make important information inaccessible to screen-reader users.
Poor colour contrast can create difficulties for some people with low vision.
A digital service that requires complicated gestures or a particular form of physical interaction can also create barriers.
These are not simply technical inconveniences.
They can determine whether a person can independently complete a government transaction, manage money or access information.
What the New Research Found
The Centre for Inclusive Development presented its research findings to NITDA during a courtesy visit.
According to researcher and disability-rights advocate Tracy Onabis Agbamu, the study audited about 30 government digital platforms.
Only 47 per cent were found to meet the required accessibility threshold.
That figure means that more than half of the government platforms included in the assessment did not meet the benchmark used by the researchers.
NITDA itself was identified among the platforms that performed strongly in the assessment.
Agbamu attributed that performance to the agency's efforts toward digital inclusion.
The assessment therefore presents two different findings at the same time.
It identifies NITDA as an agency making progress in accessibility while also showing that accessibility across the broader government digital environment remains incomplete.
The result is important because government websites are increasingly becoming gateways to public services.
If a citizen cannot use the gateway, the existence of the service does not necessarily translate into meaningful access.
Why 47 Per Cent Matters
The 47 per cent figure is not a measurement of all Nigerian websites.
It relates specifically to the government digital platforms examined in the CID research.
That distinction is important.
The research should not be interpreted as saying that exactly 47 per cent of every government digital service in Nigeria is accessible.
It describes the outcome of the platforms included in the study.
Nevertheless, the finding highlights a wider challenge.
Government agencies may develop websites independently, use different contractors and adopt different technology platforms.
Without common accessibility standards, the experience of a person with a disability can therefore vary considerably from one government service to another.
A citizen may encounter an accessible platform at one agency and an inaccessible one at another.
This inconsistency is one reason NITDA is considering national accessibility standards.
Digital Skills Alone Are Not Enough
NITDA's digital-literacy strategy is built around increasing the number of Nigerians who can use digital technologies.
The agency's DL4ALL programme aims to help Nigeria reach 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027.
The programme's National Digital Literacy Framework identifies six competence areas:
Devices and software operation.
Information and data literacy.
Digital content creation.
Communication and collaboration.
Safety.
Problem solving.
Those skills are relevant to everyday digital participation.
A person may learn how to operate a smartphone, search for information, communicate online and create digital content.
But those skills cannot be fully used if the platforms themselves create barriers.
This is the distinction NITDA's latest accessibility engagement is bringing into focus.
Digital inclusion requires both skills and usable technology.
The National Digital Literacy Target
NITDA's DL4ALL initiative has a target of achieving 70 per cent digital literacy nationwide by 2027.
The initiative is designed to train a large population across different groups, including children, young people, adults and senior citizens.
Its framework provides different levels of training, beginning with foundational skills and moving toward intermediate competencies.
The programme is not restricted to formal classrooms.
NITDA's digital-literacy system includes training across schools, the informal sector and the workforce.
The agency has also said it wants digital skills to reach Nigerians regardless of their status.
That objective now intersects directly with the accessibility question.
If persons with disabilities are expected to participate in the national digital-literacy programme, the training materials, platforms and technologies used for that participation also need to accommodate their requirements.
What the Current Digital Literacy Dashboard Shows
NITDA's Digital Literacy for All dashboard provides a live picture of the progress being recorded toward the 2027 target.
The dashboard currently shows coverage across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as all 774 local government areas.
It records 13,617 communities reached and approximately 766,848 verified digitally literate Nigerians since January 2022.
Against an estimated target population of 50 million, the dashboard records 1.53 per cent progress toward the 70 per cent target and identifies more than 49.2 million people still to be reached.
The dashboard also records the categories of people reached.
More than 215,000 youths under 35 are listed among beneficiaries.
Female participation is recorded at 36.7 per cent.
The dashboard records eight persons with disabilities trained, although that number reflects the verified data currently captured in the dashboard rather than necessarily representing every person with a disability who has received digital-literacy training through every programme in Nigeria.
That distinction is important.
The dashboard is a tracking mechanism based on submitted and verified training records.
It should not automatically be interpreted as a complete census of every digital-literacy activity in the country.
The Accessibility Gap Is Different From the Skills Gap
The two problems require different responses.
A skills gap can be addressed through training.
An accessibility gap can require redesigning the technology itself.
For example, teaching someone how to use an online banking application does not solve the problem if the application is incompatible with the screen reader the person uses.
Similarly, teaching someone how to apply for a government service online does not provide independent access if the application form cannot be navigated using assistive technology.
This is why the CID research recommended that accessibility should become part of the design and development of digital platforms rather than being treated as an issue to address after a system has already been completed.
Banking and Fintech Platforms Under Scrutiny
The CID research identified particular concerns in the banking, fintech and payment sectors.
This area is especially significant because financial services have rapidly moved toward digital channels.
Customers increasingly use mobile applications and electronic platforms to transfer money, make payments, manage accounts and access financial products.
For a person with a disability, an inaccessible financial platform can create a particularly serious problem.
If a customer cannot independently complete a transaction, the person may need to ask another individual for assistance.
That can create privacy concerns.
Financial information is sensitive.
Account balances, passwords, transaction details and personal information should not have to be exposed to another person simply because a digital interface was not designed accessibly.
The CID research specifically warned that accessibility barriers in financial platforms could force persons with disabilities to depend on third parties and potentially expose them to privacy and security risks.
Independence Is a Core Issue
The accessibility debate is therefore not simply about whether someone can eventually access a service.
It is about whether the person can access it independently.
That distinction matters.
A person who needs to ask another individual to read an online form can technically obtain the information.
But the person does not have the same level of independence as someone who can access the form directly.
Similarly, someone who must give another person control of a banking transaction may be able to complete the transaction, but at the cost of privacy and autonomy.
Digital accessibility is therefore closely connected to independence.
Screen Readers and Website Design
One of the most important categories of assistive technology for people with visual impairments is screen-reading software.
A screen reader interprets information displayed on a computer or mobile device and presents it through speech or a refreshable Braille display.
For the technology to work effectively, however, websites and applications need to provide information in a structure that assistive technologies can interpret.
Poorly labelled buttons, inaccessible forms, images without descriptions and badly structured documents can all interfere with that process.
This means accessibility has to be considered during development.
It cannot always be solved by simply adding a separate accessibility feature after a website has been completed.
Captions and Multimedia
Digital accessibility also extends beyond websites.
Government agencies and private companies increasingly use videos to communicate with citizens.
Public announcements, instructional videos, online courses and promotional materials may all contain important information.
For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, captions can be essential.
A video without captions can leave out the spoken part of the communication.
Similarly, an audio-only announcement can be inaccessible to people who cannot hear it.
Accessible digital communication therefore requires attention to different formats.
Mobile Applications Matter Too
Nigeria's digital economy is heavily mobile.
Many Nigerians access the internet primarily through smartphones rather than desktop computers.
This means accessibility cannot be limited to government websites.
Mobile applications need to be considered as well.
An application can have an accessible website while its mobile version presents barriers.
Buttons may not be properly labelled for screen readers.
Text may not resize correctly.
Gestures may be difficult to perform.
Important information may be presented through images without descriptions.
An effective national accessibility framework will therefore need to cover the different ways Nigerians interact with digital services.
Procurement Could Become an Important Tool
One of the recommendations arising from the CID research is that accessibility requirements should be integrated into government procurement.
This could have significant implications.
Government agencies frequently procure websites, software, applications and other digital systems from external vendors.
If accessibility is not included in procurement requirements, a contractor may focus on functionality without adequately addressing accessibility.
If accessibility requirements become part of the procurement process, vendors could be required to demonstrate compliance before receiving or completing a contract.
That would move accessibility from a voluntary consideration toward a formal requirement.
CID specifically called for accessibility requirements to be integrated into procurement and licensing frameworks.
Website Guidelines Are Already Being Revised
NITDA says accessibility considerations have already been incorporated into its revised website guidelines for government institutions.
This means the agency is not starting entirely from scratch.
The next question is implementation.
Government institutions need to know what the requirements mean in practical terms.
Developers need to understand the technical standards.
Procurement officers need to know what to include in tender documents.
Agencies need methods for testing whether websites comply.
And there needs to be a mechanism for identifying and correcting platforms that fall short.
The existence of guidelines is therefore only one stage.
Implementation and enforcement determine their practical effect.
Developing a National Accessibility Standard
NITDA has indicated that the development of national accessibility standards is among the areas it intends to advance.
A national standard could establish common expectations for websites, applications, digital documents and other electronic services.
Standardisation could reduce the situation in which every government agency interprets accessibility differently.
It could also provide a reference point for private-sector companies.
The Centre for Inclusive Development has specifically sought NITDA's technical support for developing and validating a national digital accessibility standard for Nigeria.
Such a standard would need to take account of international accessibility principles while also considering Nigeria's technological environment.
Accessibility and Government Services
Government services are among the most important areas for accessibility because citizens cannot always choose an alternative provider.
A private company may have competitors.
A government service often does not.
If a particular government portal is inaccessible, a citizen may have no alternative route other than visiting a physical office or asking someone else to complete the process.
That can defeat one of the main purposes of digital government: making services easier to access.
Digital government is intended to reduce unnecessary physical visits and simplify administrative processes.
Accessibility is therefore necessary if that benefit is to apply to all citizens.
The Physical Office Is Not Always a Solution
A common response to inaccessible digital services is that people can simply visit an office.
But physical access may itself present challenges.
A person with a mobility impairment may face transportation or building-access difficulties.
A person who lives far from a government office may face additional travel costs.
A person with a visual or hearing impairment may also face communication barriers.
Digital accessibility can therefore reduce some of these obstacles when services are designed properly.
For that reason, an accessible online service is not simply a convenience.
It can become an important alternative channel for people who face barriers to physical access.
The Economic Dimension
Digital accessibility also has an economic dimension.
Nigeria is trying to increase participation in its digital economy.
People use technology to look for jobs, operate businesses, sell products, access financial services, learn new skills and communicate with customers.
If people with disabilities cannot access those platforms, they can be excluded from economic opportunities.
That exclusion can affect both individuals and the wider economy.
Making platforms accessible potentially expands the number of people who can participate in digital commerce, education and employment.
NITDA has therefore framed accessibility as part of broader digital transformation rather than as a separate issue affecting only a small group.
Disability Inclusion and Digital Employment
Digital skills can create employment opportunities in areas such as software development, digital marketing, online sales, graphic design, data services, customer support and remote work.
Persons with disabilities can participate in these sectors when training and workplace technology are accessible.
For some people, remote digital work can also reduce physical barriers associated with conventional workplaces.
But that opportunity depends on access to appropriate devices, internet connectivity, training and accessible software.
A national digital-literacy programme that includes persons with disabilities can therefore contribute to economic participation.
The accessibility of the platforms used for training remains essential.
Rural Areas Add Another Challenge
Accessibility does not exist in isolation from the broader digital divide.
A person with a disability in a major city may have better access to high-speed internet, smartphones, computers and technical support than someone in a rural community.
The digital-literacy dashboard shows that NITDA's programme is attempting to reach communities across all states and local government areas.
But geographical coverage does not automatically mean equal quality of access.
Rural beneficiaries may face challenges involving internet connectivity, electricity, device affordability and availability of assistive technologies.
A national accessibility strategy therefore needs to be considered alongside broader digital infrastructure development.
The Cost of Assistive Technology
Assistive technologies can include screen readers, Braille displays, alternative keyboards, switches, magnification software and other specialised tools.
The cost of such technologies can become another barrier.
Even when a website is technically accessible, a person may not have the assistive device required to use it.
This creates a two-part challenge.
The digital platform needs to be compatible with assistive technologies.
Users also need reasonable access to those technologies.
Digital inclusion programmes therefore need to consider both sides of the equation.
The Role of Public Awareness
Accessibility can also fail when developers and organisations do not understand the needs of people with disabilities.
Training developers, designers, government communication officers and procurement officials can help address this.
The issue should become part of standard digital-development practice rather than an unusual specialist requirement.
If accessibility is considered at the beginning of a project, it can often be incorporated into the design process.
If it is considered only after launch, correcting problems may become more expensive and complicated.
Accessibility Testing
Digital platforms need to be tested before and after launch.
Automated tools can identify some accessibility problems.
But automated testing cannot identify every barrier.
Human testing by people who use assistive technologies can reveal problems that automated systems miss.
The involvement of people with disabilities in testing can therefore provide valuable practical feedback.
The CID research itself demonstrates the importance of examining actual user experience rather than relying solely on claims that a platform is accessible.
The Role of Persons With Disabilities in Policy
The development of accessibility standards should also involve people with disabilities.
They are the users who encounter barriers directly.
Their experiences can reveal problems that developers and policymakers may not anticipate.
This is particularly important because disability is not a single experience.
People with visual, hearing, physical, cognitive and other disabilities may interact with digital technology differently.
A standard that addresses one category of need may not solve another.
Inclusive policymaking therefore requires a broad range of perspectives.
NITDA's Existing Inclusion Efforts
The agency's latest commitment builds on earlier digital-inclusion activities.
NITDA has previously identified training for persons living with disabilities among its digital-skills programmes.
The agency has also established digital-capacity training centres and other facilities intended to expand access to technology and skills.
In earlier statements, NITDA said it had deployed 80 Digital Capacity Training Centres nationwide, alongside innovation hubs and special-purpose community IT training centres.
These initiatives show that accessibility and inclusion are not completely new areas for the agency.
The latest development shifts greater attention toward the accessibility of the digital platforms themselves.
Why This Matters as More Services Move Online
Nigeria's digital transformation is accelerating.
Government agencies are digitising administrative services.
Businesses are expanding online.
Education increasingly incorporates digital tools.
Financial transactions are becoming more electronic.
Employment and recruitment are increasingly advertised and processed through online platforms.
As this happens, inaccessible technology can create a larger exclusion problem.
A person who could previously visit a physical office may now be directed to a website.
A customer who once interacted with a bank employee may now be expected to use an application.
A job-seeker may be required to complete an online form.
A student may need to use a digital learning platform.
The more important digital systems become, the more important accessibility becomes.
The Private Sector Cannot Be Left Out
The research presented to NITDA also identified accessibility problems on private-sector platforms.
This means government standards alone may not address the entire problem.
Banks, fintech companies, telecommunications firms, e-commerce platforms, employers and other businesses all play roles in the digital economy.
If major private-sector platforms remain inaccessible, persons with disabilities can still face significant exclusion even if government websites improve.
This is why CID recommended broader accessibility standards and requirements affecting critical sectors.
Financial Services Require Particular Attention
Financial services deserve particular attention because they involve privacy and security.
If a visually impaired customer cannot independently use an application, the person may need to rely on another individual.
That could expose passwords, transaction details and account information.
An accessible banking application can reduce that dependence.
The same applies to fintech services, electronic payments and other financial platforms.
Accessibility therefore has implications not only for convenience but also for cybersecurity and personal privacy.
Digital Safety Is Already Part of the Literacy Framework
NITDA's National Digital Literacy Framework includes safety as one of its six competence areas.
The framework also covers information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital-content creation, devices and software operation and problem solving.
This means digital inclusion is already being considered as more than basic computer operation.
Users are expected to develop the ability to find and evaluate information, communicate, create content and address digital problems safely.
For persons with disabilities, those skills need to be paired with platforms that permit independent and secure use.
A More Inclusive Digital Economy
If the accessibility reforms succeed, their impact could extend beyond government websites.
A stronger national standard could encourage companies to build accessibility into their products from the beginning.
Developers could increasingly consider screen readers, captions, keyboard navigation, scalable text and other accessibility requirements as normal parts of product design.
Procurement officials could demand accessibility compliance from vendors.
Government agencies could test their websites before launch.
Financial institutions could assess whether customers with disabilities can independently use their applications.
Training providers could ensure that digital-literacy courses are accessible.
These changes could gradually make digital participation less dependent on a person's physical abilities.
The 2027 Target Will Face an Additional Test
NITDA's 70 per cent digital-literacy target by 2027 is ambitious.
The current DL4ALL dashboard records 766,848 verified digitally literate Nigerians against an estimated target population of 50 million.
The accessibility discussion adds another test to the programme.
It is not enough to measure how many people receive training.
The programme also needs to examine who is being reached and whether the people being trained can subsequently use the digital services that surround them.
The current dashboard records only eight persons with disabilities among the verified beneficiaries shown on its inclusion section.
That number may reflect incomplete reporting rather than the total number of persons with disabilities reached through every programme, but it nevertheless highlights why disability-disaggregated monitoring could become increasingly important.
Measuring Inclusion More Precisely
Future digital-literacy reporting could potentially provide more detailed information about people with disabilities.
For example, programmes could track the number of beneficiaries using assistive technologies, the types of accessibility support provided and the number of accessible training centres.
Such information could help government determine whether accessibility interventions are reaching the people they are intended to serve.
It could also identify areas where additional investment is required.
The broader principle is simple: inclusion needs to be measured, not only announced.
The Next Stage for NITDA
NITDA says it is willing to deepen collaboration with the Centre for Inclusive Development.
The agency has indicated that national accessibility standards are among the issues it wants to advance.
It has also said that gaps affecting persons with disabilities have already been identified within its digital-literacy framework and that efforts to address those gaps have begun.
The next stage will therefore involve turning these commitments into concrete technical and policy measures.
That could include accessibility standards, updated website guidance, procurement requirements, licensing considerations, technical assistance and training.
What Government Agencies Will Need to Do
Government agencies will ultimately be responsible for applying accessibility requirements to the platforms they operate.
That means agencies may need to audit existing websites, identify barriers and establish correction plans.
New projects should incorporate accessibility from the design stage.
Procurement documents can specify accessibility requirements.
Contractors can be required to demonstrate compliance.
Agencies can also provide accessible feedback mechanisms so that users can report problems.
These steps would make accessibility a continuing part of digital service management rather than a one-time project requirement.
What Technology Companies Can Expect
Technology companies serving government agencies may increasingly encounter accessibility requirements in contracts.
Developers may need to demonstrate that websites and applications work with assistive technologies.
Design teams may need to test colour contrast, keyboard navigation, form labels, multimedia and other components.
Companies that already build accessible products could therefore be better positioned as public-sector accessibility standards become stronger.
The change could also encourage the wider Nigerian technology industry to treat accessibility as a standard element of product quality.
What This Means for Citizens
For Nigerians with disabilities, the ultimate measure of the policy will be practical.
Can a visually impaired person independently complete a government application?
Can a deaf user access a government instructional video?
Can a person with a physical disability navigate an online service without unnecessary barriers?
Can a person with a disability use a banking application privately?
Can a student access digital learning materials?
Can a job-seeker complete an online recruitment process?
Can a small-business owner access government digital services without asking another person to complete basic transactions?
These are the practical questions that accessibility standards are intended to address.
A Shift From Access to Usability
Nigeria's digital policy conversation has traditionally focused heavily on connectivity and skills.
Those issues remain important.
But the latest NITDA initiative adds another layer: usability for everyone.
A person can have internet access and a smartphone and still be excluded if the digital platform cannot be used with their assistive technology.
This means the definition of the digital divide is becoming broader.
It is no longer simply about who has a device and who does not.
It is also about who can use the device and the services delivered through it independently.
Conclusion
Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency is moving to strengthen digital accessibility for persons with disabilities after research presented by the Centre for Inclusive Development identified significant barriers across government and private-sector digital platforms.
The research audited about 30 government digital platforms and found that only 47 per cent met the accessibility threshold used in the assessment. NITDA was among the platforms that performed strongly.
The study also identified accessibility challenges in banking, fintech and payment platforms, warning that people with disabilities who cannot independently use digital financial services may have to rely on third parties, creating potential privacy and security risks.
NITDA says it is prepared to collaborate with the Centre for Inclusive Development and has identified the development of national accessibility standards as one of the areas requiring further attention.
The agency also says accessibility considerations have already been incorporated into its revised website guidelines for government institutions.
The initiative is particularly significant because Nigeria is simultaneously pursuing a major expansion of digital literacy.
NITDA's DL4ALL programme aims to achieve 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and uses a national framework covering six areas, including device operation, information and data literacy, digital content creation, communication and collaboration, safety and problem solving.
The agency's current digital-literacy dashboard records 766,848 verified digitally literate Nigerians since January 2022, with coverage reported across all 36 states and the FCT and all 774 local government areas.
The accessibility issue shows why expanding digital skills and expanding digital access have to proceed together.
Teaching people how to use technology is only one part of inclusion.
The platforms themselves must also be usable.
For persons with disabilities, that can determine whether digital government, online banking, education, employment and other services are genuinely accessible without assistance.
The next stage will be to convert NITDA's commitment into enforceable standards, accessible procurement requirements, technical guidance, platform testing and wider participation by persons with disabilities in the design and evaluation of digital services.
If those measures are implemented consistently, Nigeria's digital transformation could move beyond simply putting more services online toward creating digital systems that a wider range of citizens can actually use independently.
That will be an important test as the country moves toward its 2027 digital-literacy target and a more digitally driven economy.