Nigeria is preparing to strengthen digital accessibility standards for persons with disabilities, after a new assessment found fewer than half the government's digital platforms meet the required accessibility threshold.
The assessment, presented to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) during an advocacy visit, found that only 47% of about 30 government digital platforms met the threshold, though NITDA itself performed strongly due to its digital inclusion efforts.
Disability rights advocate and researcher Tracy Onabis Agbamu presented the findings.
The assessment also found accessibility problems on private-sector platforms, particularly in banking, fintech and payments.
Agbamu warned that inaccessible services could force persons with disabilities to rely on other people to complete digital financial transactions, creating additional privacy and security risks.
The findings matter beyond website design. For users relying on assistive technologies, inaccessible platforms can limit access to banking, government services, education and jobs.
NITDA director-general Kashifu Inuwa, represented by Ayodeji Eniola, director of corporate planning and strategy, said the agency had identified accessibility gaps in its digital literacy framework and was working to address them.
NITDA's digital literacy strategy targets 70% national digital literacy by 2027. The agency said it is also considering national accessibility standards and has incorporated accessibility requirements into revised website guidelines for government institutions.
Agbamu called for accessibility statements on government websites, accessibility requirements in public procurement and licensing, and standards across critical sectors. She also sought NITDA's technical support to develop and validate a national digital accessibility standard.
NITDA is also expanding disability-focused digital skills training and integrating accessibility features into its digital inclusion programmes.
In an interview with ITWeb Africa, Michael Showunmi, founder of Raising Star Africa, said marginalisation remains a major barrier to digital skills training for persons with disabilities.
He said technology could improve employability, but only if people receive digital skills and assistive technology.
Showunmi added that neglecting to include this large minority group in digital skills education could hinder the country's digital economy.
Share
