The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its commitment to promoting inclusive digital innovation and ensuring that technology serves all Nigerians, including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Ms Rimini Makama, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the fourth edition of the NCC Hackathon Live Show 2026, themed “Technology Without Barriers.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 20 contestants participated in the hackathon, with five finalists emerging to compete in the grand finale scheduled for Thursday.
Represented by the Director, Zonal Operations, NCC, Mr Usman Malah, Makama described the initiative as more than a technology competition, saying it reflected the commission’s commitment to building an inclusive digital society where innovation could improve lives, expand opportunities and enable everyone to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
She said the hackathon provided a platform for young innovators to develop practical technological solutions to societal challenges, particularly those confronting PWDs and other underserved communities.
According to her, the NCC remains committed to fostering innovation, promoting indigenous technological development and ensuring that Nigeria’s digital transformation is inclusive, accessible and beneficial to all.
Makama noted that PWDs and other underserved populations continued to face barriers in accessing communication services, education, healthcare, financial services, employment opportunities and government platforms.
She stressed that addressing these challenges required innovative solutions that were affordable, practical and responsive to Nigeria’s realities.
She said participants were expected to develop solutions in areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), assistive technologies, voice-enabled communication systems, sign language recognition and accessible digital services.
Makama added that the hackathon would strengthen collaboration among government, academia, industry, startups and the wider innovation community in developing technologies capable of addressing national priorities.
The executive commissioner described investment in young innovators as an investment in Nigeria’s future, noting that successful technology ecosystems were built on creativity, resilience and determination.
She urged participants to develop solutions that were simple to use, affordable, scalable and capable of improving the quality of life of millions of Nigerians.
Earlier, the Director, Digital Economy, NCC, Mrs Helen Obi, said the hackathon demonstrated the commission’s commitment to promoting indigenous content, developing homegrown solutions and advancing assistive technologies for universal digital access.
Obi said the initiative was designed to address the needs of PWDs and people living in rural communities who had historically been excluded from active participation in the digital economy.
She listed the focus areas as AI speech-to-text technology, real-time sign language translation, voice-based complaint systems, accessible customer-care services, USSD services, image-to-voice navigation and inclusive job-matching platforms.
She explained that the initiative targeted FCT-based innovators, particularly Nigerians aged 18 to 25, including software developers, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and PWDs.
According to her, the solutions would be assessed based on innovation, accessibility, relevance, technical feasibility, scalability, affordability, sustainability, indigenous value addition, presentation and team capacity.
“Expected outcomes include startup creation, local intellectual property development, promotion of indigenous innovation and stronger public-private sector collaboration,” she said.
Obi reiterated that the overall objective of the hackathon was to create inclusive digital opportunities for every Nigerian, regardless of physical ability, location or background.
The programme brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, developers, students and technology enthusiasts to develop practical solutions aimed at breaking digital barriers and improving accessibility for Persons with Disabilities.
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