The push for an inclusive digital ecosystem in Nigeria received a major boost on Thursday, July 17, 2025, as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) hosted a sensitisation workshop in Abuja, aimed at empowering persons with disabilities to fully participate in the digital space.
With the theme “Empowering All – Advancing Digital Citizenship and Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities,” the forum served as a strategic platform for stakeholders, including policymakers, ICT professionals, civil society actors, and persons with disabilities, to exchange knowledge and foster collective action toward bridging the digital divide.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Ayuba Gufwan, represented by the Director of Social Integration, Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, hailed the NCC’s initiative as a forward-thinking step in line with both national and global commitments to inclusion, accessibility, and sustainable development.
“As we gather here today, we are reminded of the transformative potential of information and communication technologies in advancing equality, inclusion, and independent living for persons with disabilities. The digital space, when made accessible, can eliminate barriers to education, employment, health, and civic participation,” he stated.
The workshop underscored that digital citizenship is not just a tool for connectivity but an indispensable pathway to empowerment—enhancing digital education, promoting inclusive employment opportunities, and improving access to essential services.
Deliberations also touched on online safety, privacy, and ethical behaviours, with a notable presentation by Barr. Ikem Onuegbunam on closing the digital divide and combating stigma against persons with disabilities.
In a symbolic gesture, the NCC donated braille books to the NCPWD, presented by the NCC’s Director of Digital Economy, Mrs. Olatokunboh Oleyele, and received by Mr. Idemudia on behalf of the Commission. Certificates of participation were also presented to attendees.
Reaffirming the NCPWD’s commitment, Gufwan stressed that the Commission would continue to collaborate with the NCC and other stakeholders to ensure Nigeria’s digital transformation leaves no one behind.
