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The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), with support from APC, organized a one-day workshop on the accessibility of government websites and portals for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) as part of the Campaign for Improved Accessibility of Government Websites and Portals (CIAGOP).
Held on 18 July 2026 at the PWDs Hall, CITAD Office, the workshop brought together 25 representatives of disability groups to examine barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from accessing government digital services and to develop practical recommendations for improving digital inclusion.
In his welcome remarks, the Executive Director of CITAD, Malam Y.Z. Ya’u, represented by Malam Isa Garba, Senior Programme Officer, emphasized that access to government information and services is a fundamental right that should not be limited by inaccessible digital platforms. He noted that inaccessible website designs, the high cost of assistive technologies, poor internet connectivity, and weak implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 continue to exclude many persons with disabilities from benefiting fully from public digital services.
Presenting the objectives of the workshop on behalf of Ali Sabo, Hamza Aminu Fagge explained that the CIAGOP project seeks to generate evidence that will support advocacy and constructive engagement with government institutions to improve the accessibility of public websites and online portals.
Hamza also delivered a technical presentation on digital accessibility, highlighting common barriers faced by persons with disabilities when navigating websites. These included poor compatibility with screen readers, the absence of alternative text for images, inaccessible online forms, weak keyboard navigation, poor page structure, and limited consideration for users with visual, hearing, physical, and cognitive disabilities. Participants were introduced to internationally recognized accessibility standards and practical approaches to making websites more inclusive.
The workshop featured a hands-on practical session facilitated by Yusuf Babagana, during which participants assessed selected government websites using accessibility assessment tools and established evaluation criteria. They examined website navigation, readability, compatibility with assistive technologies, accessibility of downloadable documents, and the overall user experience.
Following the practical exercise, participants worked in groups to discuss their findings and present recommendations. The discussions revealed recurring accessibility challenges across many government websites and portals, particularly the lack of compliance with recognized accessibility standards.
During the final session, facilitated by Amina Khalid, participants consolidated their observations and agreed on key recommendations. They called on government institutions to adopt the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), conduct regular accessibility audits, involve persons with disabilities in website design and testing, provide information in accessible formats, build the capacity of web developers on accessibility standards, strengthen enforcement of the Disability Act, improve access to assistive technologies, and sustain collaboration between government agencies, disability organizations, and civil society.
The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment by participants to continue advocating for inclusive digital governance. The findings and recommendations generated during the workshop will inform CITAD’s ongoing engagement with government institutions under the CIAGOP project, contributing to efforts aimed at ensuring that government websites and digital services are accessible to everyone, regardless of disability.
By promoting accessible digital platforms, CITAD continues to advance the principles of inclusion, equal access, and digital rights for all Nigerians.
