By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged investors and technology firms to increase funding for local innovations. The commission made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the fourth NCC Hackathon Live Show closing ceremony. It wants Nigeria to reduce reliance on foreign software and expand digital access for excluded citizens.
NCC Pushes Digital Sovereignty
NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, made the call through Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama.
Maida said Nigeria must develop technologies that address local challenges.
He said the country should move beyond dependence on imported software.
“Through this hackathon, we are transforming Nigeria from a passive importer of foreign software into a creator of locally engineered assistive technology,” he said.
According to him, such technology must serve citizens across different abilities.
The NCC boss also urged investors to support promising innovations beyond the competition.
He specifically called on venture capitalists, telecom operators and state governments to invest.
These partnerships, he said, can help innovators turn prototypes into market-ready products.
Local Innovation Can Reduce Digital Exclusion
Maida said locally developed technologies remain vital as more services move online.
Millions of Nigerians still face the risk of digital exclusion.
He cited World Bank estimates showing that about 25 million Nigerians live with some form of disability.
He added that about 3.6 million people experience significant difficulties in functioning.
Without accessible digital products, these citizens could face wider exclusion.
The challenges could affect education, employment, healthcare and financial services.
They could also limit participation in society.
Therefore, Maida stressed the need for inclusive technology development.
Hackathon Produces Assistive Technology Solutions
The hackathon produced several solutions aimed at improving digital accessibility.
The innovations included artificial intelligence-powered speech-to-text technologies.
Other solutions featured voice-enabled public platforms and accessible USSD services.
Innovators also developed inclusive mobile applications.
Maida described these solutions as important building blocks for technological self-reliance.
He said Nigeria needs homegrown technologies that reflect local realities.
“By investing in a homegrown, universally accessible codebase, we guarantee Nigeria’s digital economy remains operational, secure, affordable, and responsive,” he said.
Sora Wins N3 Million Top Prize
Sora emerged as the overall winner of the hackathon.
The startup received N3 million for finishing first.
ClearSignal came second and won N2 million.
Ikor finished third and received N1 million.
The three winners emerged from five finalists.
The other finalists were Aditus and Axol.
The competition attracted 20 innovators who developed technology solutions for digital inclusion.
MTN Offers Infrastructure Support
Representing MTN Nigeria, Senior Manager, Strategy and Innovation, Chinyelu Chikwendu, pledged support for the innovators.
She said MTN has infrastructure that startups can use to scale their products.
These resources include cloud services, its data centre and an API marketplace.
Chikwendu also said MTN would explore partnerships with startups.
The company will consider innovations that align with its business operations.
“We are happy to support your growth,” Chikwendu said.
She added that MTN would support the innovators with relevant infrastructure.
Chikwendu also invited all 20 participants to apply for MTN’s next Cloud Accelerator Programme.
The programme offers mentorship, funding and infrastructure support to startups.
CBN Targets Financial Inclusion
Amadi Kenneth from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion Department also spoke.
He said the CBN sees opportunities in several hackathon innovations.
According to him, some solutions could help expand financial inclusion nationwide.
“We want to see that the excluded Nigerians are brought into the financial system,” he said.
Kenneth identified women and youths as priority groups.
He also listed persons with disabilities and people in remote communities.
The CBN official said the bank would collaborate with the NCC.
It could also invite selected participants to its Digital Channel Working Group.
The group could assess how their applications can support financial inclusion.
NCC Seeks Funding for Young Innovators
NCC Director of Digital Economy, Helen Obi, highlighted the importance of partnerships.
She said the commission expects new partnerships to help innovators scale their technologies.
She also called for dedicated funding for young technology developers.
According to Obi, stronger financial support can encourage more young Nigerians to innovate.
“Youths need to be encouraged,” she said.
She also urged stakeholders to establish a major funding pool for the sector.
Nigeria Seeks Inclusive Digital Future
The NCC Hackathon highlights Nigeria’s growing focus on locally developed technology.
It also shows the importance of accessibility in digital product design.
Maida urged stakeholders to view the innovators as future founders and partners.
He said investors should support accessible prototypes and help remove digital exclusion.
The NCC believes stronger investment can help Nigeria build digital solutions for its people.
Such investment could also strengthen digital sovereignty and reduce dependence on foreign software.
Ultimately, locally developed technologies can create a more inclusive Nigerian digital economy.
