Advancing Inclusion: CITAD’s Advocacy Empowers Persons with Disabilities to Demand Their Rights

At the heart of inclusive development is the belief that no one should be left behind. For years, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Kano State faced exclusion not just in policy decisions but also in access to education, employment, and public services. Through deliberate and sustained engagement, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has been working to reverse this narrative, empowering PWDs to raise their voices, demand accountability, and assert their rights as full citizens.
Through a series of targeted trainings, workshops, media engagements, and advocacy sessions, CITAD has equipped hundreds of PWDs with the skills, tools, and platforms to engage decision-makers and influence policy. These trainings have focused on digital literacy, civic participation, leadership development, and rights-based advocacy, creating a cohort of empowered advocates ready to lead the change within their communities.
This sustained effort has yielded remarkable results. Some of the most notable achievements stemming from CITAD’s inclusion work in Kano State include:
• Appointment of 44 Persons with Disabilities into the Kano State civil service, a landmark step toward inclusive governance and representation in public institutions.
• Approval by the Kano State Governor to construct 44 JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centres that are fully disability-compliant, ensuring that students with special needs have equitable access to higher education opportunities.
• Recruitment of 21 visually impaired individuals as temporary staff under the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) program, reflecting growing recognition of the capabilities and contributions of PWDs to education and development.
• Renovation of Tudun Maliki School for Special Needs, the only institution in the state catering to students with disabilities, enhancing its learning environment and accessibility.
• Provision of assistive learning tools and materials for students with visual impairments, including Braille machines, portable typewriters, and specialized papers, enabling improved teaching and learning outcomes.
These successes are not just institutional achievements, they represent a shift in societal attitudes and governance structures toward greater inclusion. Through their collective voice and increased visibility, PWDs in Kano are now more engaged in public discourse and policymaking processes. The sense of empowerment among them is both visible and growing.