Emmanuella Akinola & Access Tech
Emmanuella Akinola is a social entrepreneur and Disability Inclusion Professional. She co-founded the Accesstech Innovation and Research Centre, a Nigerian organization dedicated to bridging the digital divide for people with disabilities. Inspired by her visually impaired husband, she has witnessed firsthand how technology fosters independence and productivity, fueling her commitment to empowering blind individuals.
With the support of our Giving Joy grant, Emmanuella launched an ambitious program to equip women with disabilities with critical digital skills. The eight-week training program focused on Microsoft Productivity Tools — Word, Excel, and PowerPoint — and directly benefited 20 women with disabilities, including 10 blind women and 10 women with albinism. In partnership with the Nigeria Association of the Blind and the Albinism Association of Lagos State, Accesstech carefully selected participants who had little to no prior experience using computers or assistive technologies.
Classes were held twice a week at Accesstech’s dedicated training center. Instructors tailored lessons to the participants' specific needs. For instance, blind women learned to navigate software using screen readers and keyboard shortcuts, while women with albinism were taught to use screen magnifiers and adjust display settings for visual comfort. Each session included hands-on practice, real-world examples, and milestone assignments to reinforce learning.
The transformation was profound. By the end of the program, 94.6% of the women had become proficient in using Microsoft Office with assistive tools — a remarkable achievement given the baseline assessment at the start. One blind participant, Mrs. Lawal, shared how she now manages invoices and tracks her business finances independently, something she once relied on others to do. Another participant, Racheal, a university student and baker with albinism, reported that her new skills have allowed her to access online learning and explore better job prospects.
Beyond the impact on individuals, the program strengthened Accesstech’s reputation as a trusted provider of accessible digital training and deepened partnerships within the disability community. It also demonstrated how targeted support can dismantle barriers to education and employment, fostering a sense of dignity, self-sufficiency, and hope.
Looking ahead, Accesstech plans to expand the program by developing advanced training modules, helping participants gain access to personal computers, and providing ongoing mentorship through a dedicated WhatsApp group. These next steps aim to build on the success of the initial training, ensuring participants can continue to grow, earn, and lead.
