The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has challenged institutional investors, telecommunications giants, and state governments to direct critical funding toward indigenous technology initiatives to curb foreign software reliance and secure the country’s digital sovereignty.
​The call to action was delivered on Thursday, August 27, 2026, during the grand finale of the fourth NCC Hackathon Live Show in Abuja. Speaking on behalf of the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, emphasized that building locally relevant software is vital to safeguarding the economy against global supply disruptions.
​”Through this hackathon, we are transforming Nigeria from a passive importer of foreign software into a creator of locally engineered assistive technology that serves the ability of all its citizens,” Maida said. “By investing in a homegrown, universally accessible codebase, we guarantee Nigeria’s digital economy remains operational, secure, affordable, and responsive to Nigeria’s realities, immune to external shocks.”
​The fourth edition focused on assistive tools designed for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and marginalized communities, featuring AI-powered speech-to-text engines, voice-enabled public service systems, accessible USSD protocols, and inclusive mobile software.
​Addressing financial stakeholders, the NCC Director of Digital Economy, Helen Obi, stressed that early-stage innovators need dedicated funding pools to progress past the prototyping phase.
​Key industry leaders backed the movement; Represented by Chinyelu Chikwendu, Senior Manager of Strategy and Innovation, the operator committed technical infrastructure and invited teams to tap into its enterprise ecosystem.
Central bank representative Kenneth indicated plans to collaborate with the NCC and integrate top teams into its Digital Channel Working Group to advance national financial inclusion.
The competition concluded with Sora capturing the ₦3 million top prize for its assistive prototype. Innovators ClearSignal and Ikor took second and third place, earning ₦2 million and ₦1 million respectively, beating out fellow finalists Aditus and Axol.
