By Progress Godfrey

ABUJA – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has strengthened its drive for digital inclusion by awarding N6 million to three startups developing technology solutions for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The start-ups were rewarded at the fourth edition of the Hackathon Live Show in Abuja on Thursday, held under the theme “Technology Without Barriers: Innovative Solutions for Persons with Disabilities.” The event showcased innovations designed to address challenges faced by millions of Nigerians living with disabilities while promoting greater participation in the digital economy.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said innovation and technology would play a critical role in Nigeria’s economic future, stressing that achieving Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy would require ensuring that no sector or group of citizens are digitally excluded.

Maida, who spoke through the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Rimini Makama, said, “Nigeria today stands at a pivotal crossroad. As we work to build a resilient and diversified one $1 trillion economy, we must recognise that true national progress is impossible if some of our citizens remain locked out.

“This hackathon is our strategic response as it is a platform where innovation is harnessed to ensure that no one is left behind in our nation’s digital transformation journey. Often, several interconnected barriers continue to shape the digital experiences of persons with disabilities (PWDs),” Maida said.

The NCC Chief cited World Bank estimates showing that about 25 million Nigerians live with at least one form of disability, noting that barriers to technology access often translate into exclusion from education, employment, healthcare and financial services.

He said the hackathon was created to encourage local innovators to develop practical solutions that remove such barriers and ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.

At the end of the competition, SORA, an inclusive job-matching and adaptive skills platform for verified persons with disabilities, emerged overall winner and received the top prize of N3 million. The solution was developed by Abdulhaqq Motolani Somoye to connect users with accessible employment and skills development opportunities.

The second prize of N2 million went to Clear Signal, developed by Stephanie Nwangwu. The platform enables blind, visually impaired, deaf and hard-of-hearing electricity users to receive accessible outage notifications through voice calls, text messages and visual alerts.

Ikor, an AI-powered voice dictation and writing assistant developed by Victor Akpan, secured third place and received N1 million. The software helps users overcome barriers associated with physical typing, expensive hardware and limited internet connectivity.

Maida said the solutions demonstrated how homegrown technologies can tackle local challenges while advancing accessibility and inclusion. He urged participants to continue refining their innovations and transform them into scalable products capable of delivering real impact.

Also speaking, Chinyelu Chikwendu, Senior Manager, Strategy and Innovation at MTN Nigeria, commended the NCC for supporting innovation beyond regulation and described the focus on persons with disabilities as highly commendable.

She reaffirmed MTN’s commitment to supporting startups and innovators working to build a more inclusive digital ecosystem.