Source: Nkechi Onyedika-Ugoeze
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to making Assistive technology (AT) accessible, safe, and affordable for over 30 million Nigerians living with disabilities.
National Coordinator of the National Eye, Ear, and Sensory Functions Programme, Dr Okolo Eme, who stated this at a high-level stakeholder meeting in Abuja, noted that AT is a tool for unlocking independence, mobility, communication, education, and productivity for persons with disabilities, the ageing population, and those with chronic health conditions.
She observed that access to AT is a human rights issue and a condition for equal opportunity and participation. Eme listed various AT solutions ranging from spectacles to hearing aids, prosthetics, and wheelchairs to screen readers, Braille displays, and accessible mobile apps.
She stated that the increasing demand for AT, spurred by longer life expectancy and the growing population of people with functional limitations, makes investment in this sector a national imperative.
According to her, access to AT can be a game-changer in Nigeria. She said the ministry, through the Renewed Hope Outreach Connect Initiative, is preparing to roll out assistive technology devices—including spectacles and hearing aids to vulnerable populations nationwide.
Eme said, “We are creating space through policies, guidelines, and targeted outreach. The Renewed Hope Agenda places people at the centre, and we are working to ensure every Nigerian who needs AT has a pathway to access it.”
She explained that the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Programme previously focused solely on eye health has now expanded its mandate to include hearing and sensory functions, reflecting a more holistic approach to disability inclusion in healthcare.
“There are 30 million Nigerians living with disabilities,” she said. “No single entity can shoulder this alone. That’s why we’re bringing in development partners, the private sector, NGOs, and affected communities themselves. We’re taking it one step at a time one bite at a time, but with collective effort, we will scale.”
The Chief Medical Director of the National Eye Centre, Kaduna and Vice Chair of the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Programme, Dr Amina Hassan-Wali stressed the need to mainstream AT into healthcare and society.
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