CITAD Advocates for Accessible Digital Platforms for PWDs

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on the federal government, through ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), to ensure that their websites and digital platforms meet accessibility standards for persons with disabilities (PWDs). This appeal was made during a stakeholders’ validation meeting in Abuja, where CITAD reviewed findings from an assessment of approximately 150 government websites.

Hamza Aminu, the coordinator of Persons with Disabilities at CITAD, reported that the assessment identified numerous challenges, particularly for visually impaired individuals using screen readers, who often find website content incompatible with assistive technologies. Additionally, persons with albinism and those with low vision struggle with poor color contrast and inappropriate text presentation.

CITAD plans to conduct advocacy visits to relevant agencies and present a comprehensive report to facilitate necessary corrections. Yusuf Babagana, a System and Data Analyst at CITAD, emphasized the importance of digital inclusion to prevent exclusion of persons with disabilities from government services.