The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NDPWD), Ayuba Gufwan, has commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for organising a sensitisation workshop on digital citizenship for persons with disabilities.
The Executive Secretary, represented by the Director, Social Integration of the NDPWD, Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, expressed his delight towards the NCC for its forward-thinking initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide and enhancing the active participation of persons with disabilities in the digital ecosystem.
He said that their effort was not only timely but also aligned with national and international 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 added.
The event, which took place on Thursday, in Abuja, with the theme: ‘Empowering All – Advancing Digital Citizenship and Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities’, offered a strategic platform for stakeholders to engage, exchange knowledge, and build collective capacity in advancing digital inclusion.
The NCPWD Executive Secretary encouraged all participants – policy makers, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals, civil society actors, and persons with disabilities – to seize the opportunity to foster innovative and inclusive digital solutions that leave no one behind.
He further reiterated that the NCPWD remains committed to working collaboratively with the NCC and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria’s digital transformation is inclusive, participatory, and empowering for all, especially persons with disabilities.
The key takeaway of the workshop was that digital citizenship is an indispensable tool as inclusion in it is beneficial in the areas of access to information, improved communication, life transformation and empowerment, enhanced digital education, inclusive remote employment, tech savvy and enhanced education, amongst others.
Some of the outcome of the workshop includes discussions on the importance of online safety, privacy and ethical behaviours, among others. Others include the presentation by Barr. Ikem Onuegbunam on bridging the digital divide gap and removing the stigma on Persons with Disabilities.
The highlight of the workshop was the presentation of braille books by the NCC to the NCPWD, presented by the NCC’s Director of Digital Economy, Mrs Olatokunboh Oleyele and received by Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, on behalf of the Commission. Certificates of participation were also distributed to everyone in attendance.
