NCC Challenges Innovators to Break Digital Barriers for PWDs

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a call to young innovators, urging them to craft affordable and expandable technological remedies. These solutions are intended to dismantle obstacles that currently hinder persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other marginalized citizens from engaging comprehensively in the nation's digital economy.

This appeal was made on Wednesday by Rimini Makama, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management at the NCC, during the inauguration of the fourth NCC Hackathon Live Show in Abuja. The event is themed “Technology Without Barriers.” Makama, whose address was delivered by Usman Malah, the NCC Director of Zonal Operations, pointed out that PWDs consistently encounter difficulties in accessing vital services such as communication, education, healthcare, financial platforms, employment opportunities, and government portals.

She emphasized that these challenges necessitate the creation of technologies specifically tailored to the realities of Nigerians, rather than sophisticated products that remain out of reach for those who need them most. Makama advised participants, saying, “Do not simply focus on developing impressive technologies. Focus on creating solutions that are simple to use, affordable to deploy, scalable across communities, and capable of improving the quality of life of millions of Nigerians.”

The two-day hackathon, which commenced on Wednesday and concludes on Thursday, gathers young innovators to devise solutions in areas like artificial intelligence, assistive technologies, voice-enabled communication, sign-language recognition, accessible digital services, and inclusive employment platforms. The commission stated that the primary goal of this initiative is to generate practical and scalable solutions for challenges related to technology access and digital inclusion, particularly those affecting PWDs and underserved populations.

Makama reiterated that the hackathon underscores the commission’s dedication to ensuring that technological progress translates into broader economic participation. She stated, “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.”

Helen Obi, the Director of the Digital Economy Department at the NCC, also spoke at the event. She explained that the programme is designed to foster indigenous solutions for PWDs and rural Nigerians who have been excluded from various aspects of the digital economy. Obi highlighted the commission’s particular interest in technologies capable of overcoming barriers associated with disability, language, literacy, income, and geographical location.

According to Obi, participants are encouraged to explore low-bandwidth and offline-first services. These solutions must be able to function effectively in remote areas without requiring internet connectivity or advanced devices as prerequisites for access. “We are having a solution that will be developed with low bandwidth, offline-first digital services suitable for remote rural operations,” she affirmed.

She outlined key focus areas, including AI-powered speech-to-text and real-time sign-language translation, voice-enabled systems, accessible USSD services for non-smartphones, image-to-voice navigation, and inclusive job-matching platforms for PWDs. On the first day of the hackathon, twenty solutions were slated for presentation, addressing accessibility issues across healthcare, education, emergency communications, electricity services, employment, and digital commerce.

Notable entries included ADITUS, which proposes USSD and SMS access to the NCC’s 112 emergency service for individuals unable to make voice calls; ClearSignal, an innovation providing accessible electricity outage alerts for blind, visually impaired, and deaf users; and SignBridge AI, which aims to enhance communication between deaf patients and healthcare providers. Other submissions featured E-Novate, an AI-powered application designed to translate Nigerian Sign Language into spoken and written English in hospital settings; Sora, an inclusive job-matching platform for PWDs; and Kasuwa, which enables Nigerians to establish and operate online businesses via phone calls, without needing smartphones, data, or screens.

Obi confirmed that entries would be evaluated based on criteria such as innovation, accessibility, relevance, technical feasibility, scalability, affordability, sustainability, and indigenous value addition. The commission indicated that promising solutions could subsequently receive support for further development, pilot deployment, and expansion. The hackathon concludes on Thursday, with the five finalists set to present their solutions to the judges, followed by the awarding of certificates and cash prizes to winners and participants.