UK partners with Nigeria to enhance digital access

In collaboration with the UK’s Digital Access Programme, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)  convened a technical virtual conference on digital inclusion for underserved and unserved communities and Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs). Different stakeholders from the government, private sector, civil society, and the international development community participated in the conference to shed light on the need for affordable, inclusive, safe, and secure digital access for underserved or excluded populations. A technical report looks at the demand, supply, and systemic issues that incumber digital inclusion was presented at the conference and further identified solutions to pertinent issues. ‘As our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic goes on, our focus is on supporting a sustainable and resilient recovery across Nigeria. Tech has the ability to help us tackle some of the greatest social challenges of our time, from protecting our environment and reducing carbon emissions, to transforming health systems, saving lives through diagnosing diseases earlier, to aiding economic inclusion by deepening access to underserved populations, noted British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria in Lagos, Ben Llewellyn-Jones in his opening speech.