On 22 December 2025, the Disability Rights Protection Initiative (DRP Initiative), in partnership with Sterling Bank PLC, provided Hable One assistive technology devices to 25 blind Nigerians across the country.
The project was built around a simple problem that many blind people in Nigeria face every day. Having a smartphone or computer does not automatically mean having equal access to it. A blind student may have the device but still struggle to type efficiently. A professional may be able to listen to information through a screen reader but need a more practical way to enter text, use keyboard commands and work independently.
For the 25 beneficiaries who received the Hable One devices, the project was about addressing some of those barriers.
The Hable One is a compact Braille keyboard designed to work with smartphones, tablets and other digital devices. It allows blind users to control their devices through Braille and keyboard commands while working alongside the screen reader already available on the device.
This can make a real difference in school, at work and in everyday communication. A student can use it when taking notes, writing assignments or interacting with digital learning materials. A professional can use it to type messages, respond to emails, work with documents and perform other tasks without having to depend on another person to operate the device.
For DRP Initiative, access to assistive technology has always been closely connected to independence. Many persons with disabilities have the skills and willingness to study, work and build businesses, but the cost and availability of suitable technology can stand in the way.
That is why partnerships such as this one matter.
Sterling Bank PLC supported the procurement of the Hable One devices for the beneficiaries. Through its support, 25 blind Nigerians received technology that they could use in their education, employment, business and daily lives.
The partnership also reflected an approach to disability inclusion that DRP Initiative continues to advocate for. Persons with disabilities need practical support that removes barriers to participation. A statement about inclusion is useful, but a device placed in the hands of a blind student or professional can change what that person is able to do independently.
DRP Initiative also recognises Sterling Bank's wider efforts around accessibility. The bank's OneBank application has features that allow blind customers to access banking services using screen reader technology. This is important because access to financial services is part of living and working independently. A blind customer should be able to check an account, make transactions and manage personal finances without having to hand over private information to another person.
For us at DRP Initiative, the project also reinforced an important point about corporate partnerships. Disability inclusion should not be treated as an occasional donation or a public relations exercise. Businesses can make a practical difference by looking at the barriers persons with disabilities face and putting resources behind solutions that address those barriers.
The 25 Hable One devices are one contribution towards that goal. They do not solve every accessibility problem faced by blind Nigerians, and we know that much more work is needed. Assistive technology remains expensive for many families, accessible digital services are still inconsistent, and many blind people do not have adequate training or access to the devices they need.
DRP Initiative will continue working with organisations that are willing to move from conversations about disability inclusion to practical action. Our position remains clear. Persons with disabilities have the same right to education, employment, financial services, technology and participation as everyone else.
On 22 December 2025, Sterling Bank helped 25 blind Nigerians take one more step towards that independence.
December 22, 2025
Sterling Towers, Lagos, Nigeria
Awareness Campaign, Community Support
