Joseph Bakare
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has extended training to over 100 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Lagos State on digital citizenship, cybersecurity, data protection and assistive technologies.
The training is part of the Commission’s drive to ensure that disability does not exclude Nigerians from opportunities in the digital economy.
The participants received the training during a two-day Digital Citizenship Training for Persons with Disabilities held on September 9 and 10, 2026, in Lagos, under the theme, “Empowering Persons with Disabilities Through Digital Citizenship for an Inclusive Digital Economy.”
The programme exposed participants to digital foundations, internet and digital communication, cybersecurity basics, data protection, assistive technologies and responsible participation in the digital space.
For many of the participants, however, the training went beyond learning how to operate digital tools. It changed how they understood their safety, independence and place in an increasingly digital society.
Participants spoke about learning to protect their personal data, identify giveaway and other online scams, and avoid disclosing sensitive information to unknown persons online. Others discovered accessibility features, including speech-to-text tools, that could make everyday use of their mobile devices easier and more independent.
The programme also addressed the social realities faced by Persons with Disabilities, including discrimination, helping participants understand that some negative attitudes towards disability stem from ignorance and should not define their confidence, abilities or participation in society.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the initiative reflects the Commission’s commitment to creating a digital Nigeria in which Persons with Disabilities have the skills and confidence to participate fully in the digital economy.
Maida, who was represented by the Director, Digital Economy Department, Helen Obi, said digital inclusion must go beyond providing internet connectivity.
“Digital citizenship goes beyond operating a smartphone or computer; it encompasses the knowledge, skills and responsible behaviours required to participate safely and meaningfully online, protect personal information, recognise scams and misinformation, safeguard one’s digital identity, and understand digital rights and responsibilities,” Maida said.
He noted that technology could be particularly transformative for Persons with Disabilities by removing barriers to education and employment, supporting entrepreneurship and remote work, improving access to information and public services, and promoting greater independence through assistive technologies.
According to him, the Commission’s objective is ultimately to build a Nigeria where disability does not determine whether an individual can obtain an education, access public services, secure employment, start a business or contribute productively to society.
“You are not merely beneficiaries; you are important participants and contributors to Nigeria’s digital economy. Your talents, ideas, businesses and aspirations have value, and technology can help take them further,” Maida told the participants.
The Lagos programme forms part of a broader NCC initiative to provide digital skills training for Persons with Disabilities across the country’s geopolitical zones.
Maida said the initiative builds on the Commission’s existing interventions to expand digital access and inclusion, including its E-Accessibility Project, which provides ICT tools and assistive technologies to institutions supporting Persons with Disabilities.
He also highlighted the NCC’s support for research into assistive technology, including an assistive walking-stick prototype for blind and visually impaired persons, as well as the fourth NCC Hackathon, themed “Technology Without Barriers,” which encouraged innovators to develop solutions promoting accessibility and inclusion.
For the Commission, these interventions are guided by a simple principle: digital technology should create opportunities, not new barriers.
Maida said connectivity alone would not deliver meaningful inclusion unless Nigerians also possessed the knowledge and confidence to use technology safely, responsibly and productively.
“The NCC remains committed to promoting connectivity, digital skills, accessibility, online safety and meaningful participation, with the goal of building a digital Nigeria where Persons with Disabilities can learn, work, do business, communicate and access services with dignity and confidence,” he said.
He called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, regulators, technology companies, service providers, development partners, civil society and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities to ensure accessibility is incorporated from the outset in the design and deployment of digital products and services.
The EVC also acknowledged the Lagos State Government, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs and other stakeholders supporting the programme.
For the more than 100 participants trained in Lagos, the intervention translated the often, broad concept of digital inclusion into practical everyday skills: knowing how to protect their personal information, recognising a potential scam, communicating through assistive technology and navigating the digital world with greater confidence and independence.