TheCable unveils Nigeria’s first disability inclusive news application

TheCable, Nigeria’s leading online newspaper, has launched the Disability Inclusive News Application (DINA).

The mobile application has assistive features to provide persons with disabilities (PWDs) access to the news.

The app was built in partnership with Project Enable Africa, a leading disability inclusion hub in Nigeria that trains talents with disabilities and connects them with economic opportunities.

DINA was selected as one of the winners of the Google News Initiative (GNI) Innovation Challenge in 2022. 

The unveiling took place on Tuesday in Lagos as part of the activities to mark the ninth anniversary of TheCable. 

In his welcome address, Kolapo Olapoju, TheCable editor, described the event as a turning point in Nigerian journalism while noting the strides of the organisation in ensuring the inclusion of PLWDs in the media space.

Olapoju called on media professionals and companies in Nigeria to promote inclusivity, not only in news reportage but also in the dissemination process.

“Aside from being the megaphone that amplifies their struggles, it’s high time we – media professionals and companies – began to enable PLWDs access to the world with ease and at their own pace; this is why TheCable DINA was born,” he said.

“I am delighted to announce that with TheCable DINA, we’re 99 steps closer to the inclusive world that we seek to live in.”

‘LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND’

While introducing the app, Mayowa Tijani, DINA project lead, said it is a byproduct of the core editorial values of TheCable which includes “respect for diversity”.

“Long before it became popular and before the United Nations decided to start singing ‘leave no one behind’, TheCable has been there,” he said.

“If you look at our reports, you’ll find that we cover everyone, we leave no one behind. We’re inclusive in our reporting on politics, business, sports, etc.”

Mayowa said the assistive features in DINA would primarily help people with visual impairment, auditory challenges, and some limb challenges to get access to the news with ease.

He said TheCable will rely on feedback from users to further modify the app to serve more people on the disability spectrum.

‘PLWDs SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN GOVERNMENT’

Simon Kolawole, the founder and CEO of TheCable, described the event as “a very humbling moment”.

He acknowledged the support of partners like Google and Stanford Edge in delivering the app.

Kolawole called on the federal government to execute disability-friendly policies and include PLWDs in the business of governance.

“The realities of people with disabilities used to be a distant issue for some of us, and we live in a society where if you’re not part of the majority, nobody cares about you,” he said.

“We need to note that everyone has one disability or another, the ones that are very obvious are the ones that people know about — and we as a country have countless disability-friendly policies but we are lacking in execution.

“If we have persons with disabilities in government, it would shape the way policies are made because they would want to cater to themselves also.” 

The DINA launch event was attended by journalists, members of civil society and the PLWD community.

You can download the app on Google Play and Apple Store