Stakeholders in Nigeria’s technology and disability advocacy space have called for stricter enforcement of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, warning that weak compliance continues to exclude millions of persons with disabilities from the country’s growing digital ecosystem.
The call was made during a three-day digital accessibility training organised by the Centre for Inclusive Development (CID) under its Enhancing Digital Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria project. Participants noted that despite existing legal and policy frameworks, many digital platforms across the country remain largely inaccessible.
They highlighted that websites without text alternatives exclude blind users, while the absence of captions and transcripts shuts out deaf users. Platforms that require mouse-only navigation were also identified as barriers for persons with motor disabilities, further widening the digital divide.
Participants further decried the state of key digital services, including banking and fintech applications, as well as government portals such as those operated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing complex language, poor colour contrast, and unclear error prompts as barriers for users with cognitive and other disabilities.
“These barriers continue to deny millions of Nigerians access to public services, economic opportunities, and civic participation, despite the fact that they can be addressed with the right knowledge and commitment,” they said.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s legal framework provides a strong foundation for inclusion, stakeholders stressed that implementation remains a major gap. They referenced commitments by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to promote inclusive digital infrastructure, alongside the adoption of global standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
Program Manager of the EDAPDN Project at CID, Isaiah Ude, said the training was designed to move beyond awareness by equipping Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) with practical skills to demand accountability.
“Beyond awareness, we want these organisations to develop the technical capacity to audit digital platforms, identify accessibility gaps, and use evidence to push for change,” he said, adding that OPDs are expected to lead accessibility audits and advocacy efforts.
A dedicated session for developers and IT professionals emphasised that accessibility compliance is both a legal and professional responsibility. Ude noted that Nigeria’s rapidly growing digital ecosystem must not leave persons with disabilities behind.
“Growth that excludes persons with disabilities is not progress. If developers integrate accessibility into their work, the impact will extend far beyond this project,” he added.
Digital accessibility expert and lead trainer, David Owumi, stressed that inclusion is shaped by the environment rather than individual impairments. “We all have a responsibility to create systems that guarantee access for everyone, both online and offline,” he said.
The training forms part of CID’s broader efforts to drive compliance with accessibility standards by engaging government institutions, private sector actors, and the disability community.
Participants, including OPD representatives and technology developers, pledged to apply the knowledge gained by auditing digital platforms and advocating for more inclusive systems.
Also speaking, Communications Officer at the Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI), Otono Oshioriamhe, said accessibility remains central to true inclusion. “If people cannot access your platform, then your service is not inclusive,” he said.
Similarly, tech expert at Paycrest Inc., Michael Agom, noted that accessibility must be integrated from the design stage. “This training has opened up conversations about building digital products that work for everyone. More people are now ready to make that a reality,” he said.
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