The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has challenged young technology innovators to develop affordable and scalable digital solutions that can remove barriers limiting the participation of persons with disabilities and other underserved Nigerians in the digital economy. The call was made at the fourth edition of the NCC Hackathon Live Show in Abuja, themed “Technology Without Barriers.” The Commission said the initiative is designed to promote indigenous innovation and ensure that technological advancement creates meaningful opportunities for all Nigerians.
Speaking at the event, the NCC Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, represented by the Director of Zonal Operations, Usman Malah, said underserved groups still face major challenges accessing communication services, education, healthcare, financial services, employment and government platforms. She urged innovators to focus on practical technologies that are affordable, accessible and capable of improving the quality of life of millions of Nigerians, rather than developing solutions based solely on technological sophistication.
The Director of the NCC Digital Economy Department, Helen Obi, said the hackathon is focused on addressing barriers associated with disability, language, literacy, income and geographical location. She said participating innovators are developing solutions including artificial intelligence powered speech to text applications, real time sign language translation systems, voice enabled communication platforms, accessible USSD services, image to voice navigation tools and inclusive employment platforms. The Commission also encouraged solutions that can function with low bandwidth or offline, particularly for underserved communities.
Twenty innovations are being showcased at the hackathon, addressing challenges in healthcare, education, emergency communication, electricity, employment and digital commerce. Some of the solutions provide emergency services through USSD and SMS, facilitate Nigerian Sign Language translation for healthcare communication, deliver electricity outage alerts and connect persons with disabilities to employment opportunities. The NCC said promising innovations could receive further support for development, pilot deployment and expansion, reaffirming its commitment to making technology a tool for inclusion, economic participation and improved quality of life.