The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) are contributors to national development, not beneficiaries of charity.

The Director-General of NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at a two-day PwD training’s closing ceremony.

The training was organised with the Inclusive Friends Association and SIMBED under NITDA’s Digital Literacy For All (DL4ALL) initiative.

DL4ALL targets 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030, focusing on inclusive digital capacity nationwide.

Represented by Mr Oladejo Olawumi, Inuwa said the training ensured digital literacy inclusivity for all citizens.

“We live in a world where digital technology defines how we learn, work, communicate and participate in society,” he said.

He said digital transformation remained incomplete if over 30 million Nigerians with disabilities were excluded.

“For many PwDs, the challenge is accessibility to websites, non-captioned videos and platforms incompatible with assistive technologies.

“These barriers limit opportunities, but PwDs are contributors to national goals, not charity beneficiaries,” Inuwa said.

He said empowered PwDs become innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders, driving productivity and innovation across sectors.

Inuwa said DL4ALL operates through three programmes, including the informal sector, which has trained over 480,000 Nigerians.

He added that the education sector and workforce programmes formed the other implementation pillars.

He urged stakeholders to design accessible programmes, invest in inclusive skills and actively listen to PwDs.

Inuwa encouraged participants to become ambassadors of digital inclusion and demand an ecosystem that worked for all.

SIMBED Chief Executive Officer, Mr Daniel Onunkwo, said the pilot trained 50 PwDs and would be expanded nationwide.

“We see this as a strong statement of inclusion, equity and national progress,” Onunkwo said.

He said SIMBED remained committed to creating opportunities and providing credible PwDs data for informed decision-making.

IFA Executive Director, Ms Grace Jerry, said digital discrimination differed from physical barriers, driving their inclusion advocacy.

Represented by Ms Tracy Agbamu, Jerry said digital skills would enable PwDs achieve financial independence and contribute economically.

A participant, Ms Eberechi Onyinyechi, said the training helped her understand PwD-friendly features on her device.

“From this programme, I now understand inclusive features on my device that support persons with disabilities,” she said.

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The Katsina Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) on Tuesday, reiterated its commitment to criminal justice reform, aimed at decongesting correctional centers across the state.

The Controller of the Command, Abdulrasheed Sule, made this known in Daura, during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC).

Sule said that prison decongestion remains top priority for the Service, stressing that effective inter-agency collaboration was crucial to achieving sustainable criminal justice reforms.

He noted that the ACJMC plays a vital role in ensuring speedy justice dispensation, reducing overcrowding in custodial centres, and safeguarding the rights of suspects and inmates.

The Controller reaffirmed the Service’s unwavering support for the committee’s objectives, particularly in implementing policies that promote non-custodial measures, improve case management, and enhance rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.

During the meeting, stakeholders reviewed the draft ACJMC activity report to be presented to Gov. Dikko Radda, and the final draft of the Practice Direction on the taking of cognisance of cases, by Magistrates’ Courts.

According to Sule, the measures are expected to fast-track case processing, and further reduce inmate population in the state.

He enjoined stakeholders, including the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organisations, to sustain collaboration towards ensuring a fair, efficient, and humane criminal justice system in Katsina.

Gov. Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday inaugurated the renovated Oredo Girls Secondary School, Benin, ending years of neglect and abandonment.

Okpebholo who spoke at the ceremony said improved staffing and infrastructure showed his administration’s education interventions were producing results.

“One thing that gives me joy today is the number of teachers I am seeing in this school.

“Previously, I saw just two or three teachers here, but today I am seeing over 20, showing we are on the right path.

 “We will fix the electricity challenge here and do our best to improve this school for our children,” the governor stated.

 Education Commissioner, Paddy Iyamu, said the project reflected “practical governance”, recalling the school had become an eyesore and hotspot for undesirable activities.

 “The governor declared a state of emergency in schools to ensure every child learns in a safe, conducive environment,” Iyamu said.

Students and staff welcomed the governor, thanking the Okpebholo-led administration for reviving the long-abandoned school and restoring hope to the learning environment.

A student, Osarun Wense, said the formerly dilapidated structure had been transformed, enhancing the school’s appearance and learning conditions.

The commissioning aligns with Okpebholo’s broader agenda to rehabilitate public schools and improve education quality across Edo.

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