NCC flags high device costs, inaccessible tech as digital inclusion barriers

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has identified several significant barriers hindering persons with disabilities from fully participating in Nigeria's digital economy. These obstacles include high costs of devices and connectivity, inaccessible digital products, and a lack of necessary digital skills. The commission has also highlighted the limited involvement of persons with disabilities in technology design, warning that digital transformation could inadvertently create new barriers unless accessibility and inclusion are considered during development.

Dr Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, spoke about these issues during the opening of a digital citizenship training programme for persons with disabilities in Lagos. Maida stressed that digital transformation must be inclusive, accessible, and people-centered. He emphasized that achieving digital inclusion requires more than just providing internet access; it also depends on the availability of suitable devices, affordable and dependable broadband, accessible digital platforms, relevant digital skills, and secure digital systems.

Maida explained that overcoming these barriers could significantly enhance access to education, employment, entrepreneurship, public services, and information for persons with disabilities. The NCC is committed to digital inclusion and has implemented various initiatives under the Universal Service Provision Fund. These include School Knowledge Centres, Information Resource Centres, University Connectivity Initiatives, eHealth projects, and the eAccessibility Project, which provides ICT tools and assistive technologies to institutions supporting persons with disabilities.

The commission is also investing in research and innovation to develop practical technology solutions for people with disabilities through its Professorial Chair Initiative. One notable example is the assistive walking stick prototype, developed to assist visually impaired individuals. Maida stated that the NCC is working to further develop and potentially commercialize this prototype while ensuring it meets emerging technologies and user needs.

Additionally, the NCC is organizing the fourth Hackathon, themed "Technology Without Barriers," to encourage the creation of accessible technological solutions. This training program aims to equip participants with practical skills to use digital tools safely, responsibly, and productively. Earlier this year, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALET) expressed support for the NCC's efforts to promote local smartphone manufacturing in Nigeria.

Adebayo noted that Nigeria should transition from being a technology consumer to an innovator, designer, and manufacturer of digital technologies, leveraging the country's vast telecommunications market and youthful population as a foundation for world-class manufacturing.