The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has deployed 84 assistive information technology projects around the country to assist persons with special needs, while also supporting policies that allow disadvantaged segments of society to enjoy a more quality life.
“The e-Accessibility initiative aims to satisfy the ICT requirements of people with disabilities in Nigeria by providing ICT tools, assistive technologies, training, and Internet access in the designated areas.” The NCC has deployed the e-Accessibility Projects in at least 84 places across the country between 2012 and 2020.”
Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), disclosed this during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to the NCC in Abuja, where the EVC also reiterated the NCC’s commitment to continuously support people with special needs across the country.
Danbatta stated in a statement after receiving the NCPWD delegation led by its Executive Secretary, James Lalu, that the telecommunications regulator has always adopted programs targeted at achieving digital inclusion for all Nigerians, regardless of their circumstances.
The EVC, represented by Usman Malah, Director, Human Capital and Administration at NCC, stated that the telecoms sector has become the backbone of the national economy, growing from 400,000 telephone lines on the eve of sectoral deregulation in 2000 to over 208 million active telephone lines now, just as active Internet subscriptions have increased to 156 million in the last two decades.
According to the EVC, the contribution of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Industry to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is presently 18.44 percent, based on statistics issued by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for the second quarter of 2022. Danbatta further stated that the NCC has continued to assure the quality of service delivery to customers and digital inclusion for everyone.
As a result, Danbatta stated that the NCC recognizes and supports the noble goals of the formation of the NCPWD, as made possible by the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018.
The NCC Chief Executive stated that, in addition to implementing the law’s 5% inclusiveness of persons with disabilities in NCC’s staffing efforts, the telecom regulator, through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), has executed many projects within the framework of its E-Accessibility Programme that target the challenged members of society over the last ten years.
“In other words, the initiative delivers ICT tools and Assistive Technologies (ATs) to the blind, deaf, dumb, crippled, cognitively challenged, and other disabled persons.” “As disadvantaged members of society, the initiative is intended to help persons living with disabilities improve their quality of life,” he stated.
In his remarks, NCPWD Executive Secretary Lalu stated that the agency’s visit was to bring NCC management up to date on its responsibilities and actions, as well as to seek stronger partnerships with NCC for the benefit of Nigeria’s estimated 35.5 million people with disabilities.
He praised the NCC for its “great job” in supporting individuals with impairments in the country via various programmes. Lalu also asked the NCC to assist in raising awareness among telecom service companies about the legal duty to commit 5% of their employment quota to people with disabilities.
Despite their limitations, he believes this group of Nigerians is “clever, professional, and intellectual,” and that they can make substantial contributions to the success of the firms that employ them.
“What we aim to do is to make Nigeria a pleasant country for PLWD by eliminating prejudice and establishing a sufficient reporting mechanism, and we regard NCC as a strategic and crucial partner in this journey,” Lalu explained.
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