Mobile Phone Use for Empowerment and Well-Being of the Physically Challenged in Nigeria

Abstract

National and economic benefits of mobile phone use in developing countries has been a well-articulated research domain over an extended period. This can be attributed to the ubiquitous nature of mobile phones and their increased penetration in developing nations. However, the potential benefits of mobile phones for empowerment and well-being of people with disability (PWD) has been ignored. This paper focuses on the well-being of the physically challenged in Nigeria and how mobile phones can be employed to empower them. The link between ICT and human development has been well researched, but minimal research has attempted to link ICT, mobile phone and disability using the Capability Approach as a theoretical lens. The critical realist ethnographic study approach is employed in this study to show how mobile phones can be used to empower and impact on the well-being of the physically challenged. Data were collected from the Adamawa skill acquisition center for persons with disability, Nigeria. It is argued that mobile phones have the capabilities to empower and impact on the well-being of the physically challenged. Thus, the findings illustrate that mobile phones play significant roles in the well-being and empowerment of the physically challenged.

Mechanisms for mobile phone use in empowerment: A critical realist study of people with disabilities in Nigeria

“…Such technologies are crucial in providing PWDs opportunities for empowerment. PWDs use their social media platforms to showcase their products, maintain kinship among ties and voice their opinions in political debates (Iliya et al, 2019b). The enabling contextual conditions that support the structural mechanisms are the low price of mobile phones and personal innovativeness of PWDs to adapt to their impairment challenges with confidence.…”

“…For example, software such as mobile‐speech and color schemes can easily be accessed through the mobile app. The potentials of ICTs have enabled PWDs to participate in education, employment, business activities and living an independent life (Iliya et al, 2019b). Thus, ICTs have become key drivers in the social inclusion of PWDs.…”

“…For instance, the use of mobile phones has empowered PWDs in Nigeria. However, despite the numerous benefits of mobile technologies in a given society, the underprivileged PWDs in developing countries face significant difficulties in acquiring it (Iliya et al, 2019b). This is due to the cost of the mobile phones that in most times, it is outside the reach of PWDs who lack availability of such technologies (Raja, 2016).…”

“…The use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to empower PWDs is not a new concept (Thompson, 2018). Arguably, within the Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D) domain, ICTs have proved to be important artifacts in empowering PWDs in their societies (Iliya, Ononiwu, Kah, & Quaye, 2019b; Osman, 2015). These ICTs are significant in supporting and addressing the challenges faced by PWDs by socially and economically integrating them into their communities (Khetarpal, 2014).…”

“…In fact, the literature on ICT4D suggests that mobile phones have the potential to eliminate the social and physical barriers that PWDs experience in developing countries. Specifically, PWDs use mobile phones in their daily activities and these mobile phones have proved to be valuable artifacts for their empowerment (Iliya et al, 2019b). However, there is a dearth of studies on the contextual factors that might shape the use of mobile phones (Han, 2012) and little has been done thus far in investigating the capabilities that can be generated from the use of mobile phones by PWDs (Iliya et al, 2019b; Qureshi, 2011; Z Zheng & Stahl, 2011).…”