Abuja – The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has called for digital inclusivity in Nigeria’s education sector, stressing that accessibility must be built into the foundation of all digital platforms and tools for teaching and learning.
He made this statement in Abuja during the unveiling and national launch of the Digital Teacher Portal and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) Strategic Vision, an event officiated by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
Hon. Abba Isa emphasized that “accessibility by design” is the key to ensuring that all learners, including those with disabilities, benefit equally from digital education initiatives. He explained that accessibility must go beyond retrofitting and instead be integrated from the start of every digital project.
According to him, this approach requires strict enforcement of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018; provision of digital platforms equipped with features like screen readers, captioning, sign language interpretation, adjustable fonts, and voice recognition; and development of learning materials in multiple formats such as Braille, audio, simplified text, and visual supports. He also stressed the need to build the capacity of educators through training on digital accessibility standards and inclusive teaching methods, while fostering partnerships between government, the private sector, and civil society to deliver assistive technologies, affordable devices, and internet access for learners with disabilities.
The presidential aide noted that digital transformation must not only prioritize speed and technological advancement but also equity and inclusion to ensure that no learner is left behind.
He further highlighted the importance of empowering teachers, particularly those who work with special needs students. This, he said, can be achieved through continuous professional development in digital literacy and inclusive teaching, access to assistive technologies such as interactive whiteboards and text-to-speech software, flexibility in the national curriculum to allow personalized learning, and the creation of digital communities of practice where teachers can share resources and best practices.
Commending the TRCN and the Federal Ministry of Education for the launch, Hon. Abba Isa described it as a bold step that reaffirms the government’s commitment to teacher quality, digital learning, and inclusive education.
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