“Advocates Urge NYSC to Provide Digital Access for Blind Corps Members”

A leading disability advocacy group has urged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to go beyond physical accessibility and provide “digital ramps” to support blind and visually impaired corps members in Nigeria’s national service programme.

In a statement, the Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind (CITAB) welcomed the NYSC’s new disability inclusion protocol, saying it marks significant progress for persons with disabilities. However, the group stressed that true inclusion must include accessible technology, not just ramps and accessible toilets.

CITAB explained that digital tools — such as screen-reading software, accessible online platforms, and assistive devices — are essential for blind corps members to engage fully with registration systems, orientation information, and training resources. The group argued that without these tools, visually impaired graduates are effectively excluded from critical aspects of the programme.

Fenemigho also called for assistive technologies to be made available at all NYSC orientation camps nationwide, and for the ongoing skill acquisition programmes to include courses relevant to the digital economy, such as data analytics and digital marketing.

To help make these changes sustainable, the group proposed financial support partnerships with relevant government ministries to ensure that blind corps members have the resources they need to participate meaningfully in national service.