Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are gradually becoming important artifacts for people with disabilities (PWDs). This paper investigates the use of mobile phones in the daily activities of PWDs in sub‐Saharan Africa. The study argues that mobile phone use empowers PWDs, but little is known about what contextual factors and under what underlying mechanisms such empowerment occurs. By adopting Thapa and Omland's (2018) critical realism methodology, we aim to understand the underlying mechanisms, structures and conditions that shape empowerment through mobile phone use by PWDs in Nigeria. The Capability Approach (CA) was engaged as the theoretical framework. Semi‐structured interviews and focus group discussions with twenty‐four PWDs were used as the primary source of data. Our findings reveal that contextual factors such as personal, social and environmental factors enable/hinder empowerment for PWDs. Similarly, mechanisms such as accessibility and acceptability, technology knowledge, social media and mobile phone features are found to be the main underlying mechanisms triggering the events we observed. However, we argue that these mechanisms are enacted from other enabling structures such as the ubiquity of mobile phones, caregivers and contextual conditions like the personal innovativeness in mobile phone use and the low price of mobile phones. Our findings contribute to the critical realism methodology, policy and theory.

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.

There is a growing adoption of solar home systems to support sustainable development and address poor electricity supply in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This has resulted in the rise of solar mobile phone charging businesses, especially in off-grid communities. An area that remains under-researched that needs to be addressed is how these solar mobile phone charging businesses provide opportunities for women in rural communities in SSA. We employ the concept of Sen's Capability Approach to evaluate how the solar mobile phone charging businesses have improved the lives of women by focusing on opportunities provided for expanding their freedom to participate in social, economic, and political activities. Our analysis shows that women's involvement in solar mobile phone charging businesses has enhanced their individual and collective capabilities to participate in development activities; however, certain contextual factors hinder the generation of these capabilities. The paper concludes with some implications for theory and practice.