A technology solution designed to connect Nigerians living with disabilities to jobs and skills opportunities has emerged winner of the fourth edition of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Hackathon Live Show 2026, underscoring the growing role of indigenous innovation in tackling digital exclusion.
The winning team, SORA, clinched the N3 million grand prize with its inclusive job-matching and adaptive skills platform for verified persons with disabilities. Clear Signal placed second and received N2 million, while IKOR came third with a N1 million prize.
The competition, themed “Technology Without Barriers,” brought together 20 teams of innovators, software developers, entrepreneurs, researchers, students and persons with disabilities from across Nigeria to develop practical solutions aimed at expanding digital participation and fostering inclusive economic growth.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the Commission was committed to using innovation to dismantle barriers preventing millions of Nigerians from fully participating in the digital economy.
Representing Maida, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, described young Nigerian innovators as a critical national asset, declaring: “Nigeria’s next major oil field is not buried under our soil or offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. It is here, in the ideas, ingenuity, brilliance and determination of the young Nigerians gathered in this room today.”
Maida identified the cost of devices, inadequate digital skills, limited access to assistive technologies and poor accessibility features on some digital platforms as persistent obstacles to digital participation.
He stressed the need for technology to serve as an enabler rather than another source of exclusion, stating: “Technology should not create new barriers; at its best, technology should remove them.”
According to him, the Hackathon provides a strategic platform for turning innovative ideas into practical solutions capable of addressing accessibility challenges and advancing the NCC’s vision of a digitally inclusive society.
He further pointed to the commercial potential of accessible technology, noting: “When we design assistive and accessible technologies, we are unlocking massive untapped markets, expanding consumer participation, and bringing millions of hardworking Nigerians into the formal economy as creators, entrepreneurs, and confident digital citizens.”
The NCC chief executive consequently urged investors, telecommunications operators and other stakeholders to support the commercialisation and deployment of promising solutions emerging from the programme.
Solutions Target Real-World Barriers
SORA’s winning innovation is an inclusive job-matching and adaptive skills platform designed specifically for verified persons with disabilities in Nigeria. It seeks to bridge the gap between users and employment opportunities while providing access to relevant skills-development resources.
The second-place solution, Clear Signal, tackles accessibility challenges in the electricity sector by enabling blind, visually impaired, deaf and hard-of-hearing electricity consumers to receive power outage alerts through voice calls, text messages and visual notifications.
IKOR, which finished third, is an AI-powered voice dictation and writing tool designed to help users overcome barriers created by expensive hardware, poor internet connectivity and the physical demands of typing.
Beyond the top three, the Hackathon featured solutions targeting challenges across healthcare, education, emergency communications, accessible USSD services, AI-powered sign-language translation, voice-enabled services and assistive technologies for visually impaired people.
All participating teams received consolation prizes and certificates of participation in recognition of their contributions to advancing accessible technology and digital inclusion.
Earlier, at the opening ceremony, Makama, represented by Usman Malah, Director, Zonal Operations, said the Hackathon reflected the Commission’s commitment to building a digital society in which technology creates opportunities for everyone.
She said: “The true measure of technological advancement lies not only in the sophistication of our innovations, but in the extent to which they improve lives, expand opportunities, and empower every member of society to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.”
Makama urged participants to focus on solutions that are affordable, scalable, user-friendly and impactful, stressing that “the greatest innovations are those that remove obstacles, create opportunities, and empower people to reach their full potential.”
NCC Pushes Indigenous Innovation
The Director, Digital Economy Department, Helen Obi, said the Hackathon was conceived to promote indigenous innovation while advancing digital inclusion and universal access.
She said the participating teams demonstrated the breadth of Nigeria’s emerging technology ecosystem by developing solutions across multiple sectors and accessibility challenges.
Obi also highlighted the Commission’s indigenous NCC Hackathon Judge Software, developed to automate and standardise the evaluation and judging process.
The initiative also drew commendation from industry and government stakeholders.
In a goodwill message, Chinyelu Chikwendu, Senior Manager, Strategy and Innovation at MTN Nigeria, described the NCC as “a regulator with a difference”, noting that the Commission not only provides regulatory oversight but also actively supports the growth of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
She particularly commended the Hackathon’s emphasis on persons with disabilities and reaffirmed MTN’s commitment to supporting innovation, startups and technology solutions capable of improving lives.
Similarly, Eneh Omawumi, Head of the Gender Desk Unit at the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, commended the NCC for promoting innovation, empowerment and inclusion through the programme. She also praised the fairness of the competition and encouraged participants to continue refining and developing their ideas.
Representing the Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Amadi Kenneth described the Hackathon as a worthwhile initiative, observing that several of the solutions demonstrated strong potential to deepen financial inclusion among women, youths, persons with disabilities and other underserved groups.
He expressed the CBN’s willingness to collaborate with the NCC and participating innovators to explore how some of the solutions could be deployed to advance digital and financial inclusion across Nigeria.
The event ended with the NCC commending its technical partners, mentors, judges and other stakeholders for their contributions, while reaffirming its commitment to strengthening indigenous content development, supporting local technology ecosystems and ensuring that the benefits of Nigeria’s digital economy reach all segments of society.
