Technology
NCC Hackathon: SORA Wins ₦3m for Disability-focused Technology
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has awarded ₦3 million to a technology team that developed a platform designed to connect persons with disabilities to jobs and skills opportunities.
SORA emerged as the winner of the fourth edition of the NCC Hackathon Live Show, held in Abuja from 26 to 27 August. Clear Signal came second with ₦2 million, while IKOR placed third and received ₦1 million.
The competition focused on technology designed for persons with disabilities and other underserved communities.
But the bigger question now is whether the ideas developed during the two-day event will move beyond competition prototypes and become affordable, reliable services that people can use.
That matters because digital access increasingly affects employment, education, banking, healthcare, public information and participation in the economy.
What the winning teams developed
SORA developed an inclusive job-matching and adaptive skills platform for verified persons with disabilities.
The NCC says the platform connects users with employment opportunities and skills-development resources.
Clear Signal, the second-placed team, developed a system that allows 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 came third, developed an AI-powered voice dictation and writing tool. Its stated focus includes people facing barriers created by expensive hardware, unreliable internet connections and physical typing requirements.
The competition brought together 20 teams made up of innovators, software developers, entrepreneurs, researchers, students and persons with disabilities.
Participants worked on solutions covering areas including healthcare, education, emergency communications, accessible USSD services, AI-powered sign-language translation and voice-enabled services.
Why digital accessibility matters
For many Nigerians with disabilities, the problem is not simply whether an internet connection exists.
A digital service can be online and still remain unusable if it does not work with screen readers, lacks captions, uses inaccessible forms or depends on interfaces that people with different disabilities cannot navigate.
The Centre for Inclusive Development (CID), which has been working on digital accessibility in Nigeria, said in August that websites without text alternatives can exclude blind users, while videos without captions or transcripts can exclude deaf users.
It also said inaccessible banking applications, government portals and other digital platforms can restrict access to public services and economic opportunities.
That provides an important test for the NCC-backed innovations: accessibility must work in practice, not simply appear in a product description.
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NCC says innovation can help close the gap
Speaking on behalf of NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management Rimini Makama described young innovators as an important national resource.
“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 said the cost of devices, inadequate digital skills, limited access to assistive technologies and poor accessibility features continue to restrict digital participation.
“Technology should not create new barriers; at its best, technology should remove them.”
He also argued that accessible technology could expand markets and bring more Nigerians into formal economic activity.
“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 has asked investors, telecommunications companies and other stakeholders to support the commercialisation of promising solutions from the programme.
The gap between winning a prize and reaching users
Winning a hackathon does not, by itself, demonstrate that a technology is ready for widespread use.
A successful product would need to address issues such as affordability, data costs, connectivity, user safety, technical support and long-term funding.
It would also need to work for the people it is intended to serve.
That point is particularly important in disability-focused technology because users have different accessibility requirements.
A platform designed for a blind user may not solve the needs of a deaf user. Likewise, a service that works well with a smartphone may still exclude people who cannot afford suitable devices or reliable internet access.
The NCC itself recognised affordability, scalability and usability as important considerations during the competition. At the opening ceremony, officials urged participants to develop solutions that were “affordable, scalable, user-friendly, and impactful”.
L-R: Victor Akpan, Chief Executive Officer, Ikor; Abdurrahman Gambo, Chief Executive Officer, Gyronics; Stephanie Nwangwu, Chief Executive Officer, Clearssignal; Barr. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Ms. Helen Obi, Director, Digital Economy, NCC; Sani Mahmud Madobi, Chief Executive Officer, Meertech Ltd.; and Abdulhaqq Somoye, Chief Executive Officer, Sora, at the NCC 4th Edition Hackathon Live Show, on the 26 to 27th August 2026, at NCC Annex Office Mbora Abuja.
Nigeria already has a wider digital inclusion agenda
The hackathon is not happening in isolation.
Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020–2030) identifies digital literacy and skills, infrastructure, digital services, emerging technologies and indigenous content development among its eight pillars.
The policy aims to use digital technology to support economic development and wider participation in the digital economy.
NITDA has also continued to frame digital inclusion as part of Nigeria’s broader digital transformation agenda.
In 2026, the agency said its Digital Literacy for All programme had trained 50 persons with disabilities in practical digital skills. It said accessibility remains a core part of digital transformation because inaccessible platforms can prevent people from using otherwise available digital tools.
The NCC’s own 2026 call for the fourth hackathon specifically encouraged solutions involving AI voice-to-text tools for low-bandwidth environments, voice-enabled complaints systems, AI sign-language recognition, accessible USSD services and inclusive job platforms.
This suggests a shift from treating digital inclusion solely as a question of connectivity towards addressing how people actually interact with digital services.
But accessibility advocates want implementation
Civil society groups say policy commitments will have limited effect if organisations do not build accessibility into digital products and enforce existing obligations.
The Centre for Inclusive Development has called for stronger technical capacity among developers and greater involvement of organisations of persons with disabilities in accessibility audits and digital design.
That perspective exposes a potential weakness in hackathon-driven innovation.
A competition can produce promising ideas quickly, but the people affected by digital exclusion need more than prototypes. They need products that survive beyond the event, remain affordable and receive regular technical improvements.
Nigeria’s disability rights framework also creates a wider responsibility around accessibility and participation. The National Human Rights Commission has highlighted the need to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, including their participation in social and economic life.
Industry voices welcome the initiative
Chinyelu Chikwendu, Senior Manager, Strategy and Innovation at MTN Nigeria, praised the NCC’s approach and said the focus on persons with disabilities was particularly important.
She described the NCC as “a regulator with a difference” and reaffirmed MTN’s commitment to supporting innovation, startups and solutions aimed at improving people’s lives.
Eneh Omawumi, Head of the Gender Desk Unit at the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, also commended the competition and its emphasis on innovation and inclusion.
From the financial sector, Amadi Kenneth of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion Department said some of the solutions could help improve financial inclusion for women, young people, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
He said the CBN was willing to collaborate with the NCC and innovators from the programme.
These statements indicate institutional interest, but they do not yet amount to commitments to deploy the winning products at scale.
That distinction will matter.
Who stands to benefit?
If the winning solutions reach the market and work as intended, persons with disabilities could gain greater access to jobs, skills, information and essential services.
Employers could also gain access to a wider pool of talent through platforms such as SORA.
Electricity consumers with hearing or visual impairments could benefit from more accessible outage information through Clear Signal.
IKOR could help people who face difficulties with conventional typing or expensive assistive hardware.
The wider technology sector could also benefit if the programme creates commercially viable Nigerian products that can be adapted for other markets.
But users could gain little if the solutions remain at prototype stage.
The immediate prize money is therefore only one part of the story. The more important measure will be whether these technologies become accessible products used by people outside the hackathon environment.
What happens next?
The NCC has called on investors, telecommunications operators and other stakeholders to help commercialise promising innovations from the programme.
It has also reaffirmed its commitment to indigenous technology development and wider access to the digital economy.
The next stage should therefore be measurable.
Can the winning teams secure funding?
Will their products undergo accessibility testing with people with different disabilities?
How many users will eventually adopt them?
Will government agencies, telecoms companies or other large institutions integrate the solutions?
And will the NCC publish evidence showing how many ideas from previous hackathons reached users or generated sustainable businesses?
Those questions will determine whether the fourth Hackathon Live Show becomes more than an annual technology competition.
For now, the NCC has identified an important problem and backed several potential solutions. The real test will be whether those solutions can move from an Abuja demonstration to everyday digital life for the people they were designed to serve.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will open applications for its Blue Economy Accelerator Programme (NIMASA-BEAP) on Monday, October 5, giving young Nigerian innovators aged 18 to 28 an opportunity to develop ideas aimed at solving challenges in the maritime and blue economy.
The application window will run until November 13, 2026, with submissions to undergo evaluation and due diligence before selected applicants move to a National Innovation Hackathon in December.
The programme is structured to take promising ideas beyond the application stage, with successful participants expected to progress through a 12-week accelerator programme in 2027 before presenting their solutions at a National Demo Day.
Application opens October 5
NIMASA said the programme is aimed at identifying young people developing innovative solutions relevant to Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy sectors.
The initiative combines a National Innovation Hackathon with a 12-week accelerator programme designed to help participants develop their ideas into practical solutions and potentially viable enterprises.
For applicants, the first stage will be the online application process, which opens on October 5 and closes on November 13.
Applications will then be evaluated between November 16 and December 2, with NIMASA saying the process will include due diligence.
What happens after applications?
Those who make it through the selection process will proceed to the National Innovation Hackathon scheduled for December 8 to 10.
The hackathon will provide a further stage for developing and assessing the ideas submitted by young innovators.
Successful participants will then enter a 12-week accelerator programme in the first quarter of 2027.
The programme is expected to culminate in a National Demo Day in the second quarter of 2027, where participants can showcase their solutions and explore opportunities for collaboration and enterprise development.
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NIMASA: Young people must be part of blue economy growth
NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the programme was intended to increase the participation of young Nigerians in the development of the country’s blue economy.
He said Nigeria’s maritime sector has significant potential for economic growth, employment and national development, but argued that unlocking that potential would require innovation, technology and new ideas.
“The future of Nigeria’s blue economy will be built on ideas, innovation, enterprise and collaboration. Through NIMASA-BEAP, we are creating a platform for young Nigerians to develop practical solutions, transform innovative ideas into viable enterprises and contribute meaningfully to the growth of our maritime sector,” Mobereola stated.
The programme therefore goes beyond a one-off innovation competition, with its timetable taking selected participants from application and evaluation to the hackathon, accelerator stage and eventual demonstration of their solutions.
Why the programme matters
Nigeria’s blue economy covers economic activities linked to the country’s maritime and marine resources, including areas where technology and entrepreneurship can create new services, businesses and jobs.
For young innovators, NIMASA-BEAP provides a route into a sector that can sometimes appear dominated by established companies and traditional maritime businesses.
The agency said it wants to foster innovation and support a new generation of maritime entrepreneurs whose solutions can contribute to the development of the sector.
However, the success of the initiative will ultimately depend on how effectively promising ideas are supported after selection and whether they can move from prototypes and concepts into solutions capable of operating in the real economy.
NIMASA-BEAP timeline
October 5, 2026: Application portal opens
November 13, 2026: Application deadline
November 16–December 2, 2026: Evaluation and due diligence
December 8–10, 2026: National Innovation Hackathon
First quarter 2027: 12-week accelerator programme
Second quarter 2027: National Demo Day
NIMASA is encouraging eligible Nigerians aged 18 to 28 with ideas relevant to the maritime and blue economy to apply when the portal opens.
The agency said the initiative forms part of its efforts to promote innovation, youth participation and entrepreneurship within Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, says the Service plans to deepen its use of artificial intelligence in public communication after receiving international recognition for its approach to stakeholder engagement.
Adeniyi received a Special Award of Excellence at the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards in Athens, Greece, on Friday, 25 September.
The recognition focused on the NCS’s communication, stakeholder engagement and public relations efforts around its ongoing reforms, including initiatives aimed at modernising Customs operations, facilitating trade and improving institutional transparency.
Adeniyi: Recognition should drive more innovation
Rather than viewing the award as an end in itself, Adeniyi said the recognition should encourage the Customs Service to explore emerging technologies in communicating with citizens and stakeholders.
“We have started using AI tools in our public communication, and we view this recognition as an invitation to do more.”
He said the Service hoped that by 2027, the NCS and more Nigerian government agencies would feature more prominently among global award recipients.
The comments place artificial intelligence within the wider communication strategy of the Customs Service, as government agencies increasingly face the challenge of explaining reforms in an environment shaped by rapid digital communication and misinformation.
Why Customs says communication matters
Adeniyi said communication was central to the success of government reforms because citizens, businesses and other stakeholders needed to understand why policies were introduced, how they were being implemented and what outcomes were expected.
He linked the NCS reform agenda to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly efforts to improve Nigeria’s trade competitiveness, facilitate exports and increase the country’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
For businesses that rely on cross-border trade, clearer communication from Customs can affect how traders understand regulatory requirements, compliance obligations and changes to border processes.
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Nigeria also wins IPRA Grand Prix
The Athens ceremony also brought another international recognition for Nigeria.
The IPRA Grand Prix was awarded to Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, for its campaign titled “AI for Crisis Communication: From Study to Strategy.”
The campaign emerged from a research project led by IMPR Chief Executive Officer Yushau Shuaib in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Centre for Crisis Communication.
The research examined challenges associated with artificial intelligence, including misinformation, deepfakes and wider digital information disorder, before translating the findings into a strategic communication campaign.
The two Nigerian recognitions place public-sector communication and the emerging role of AI in crisis communication at the centre of the country’s showing at the 2026 IPRA awards.
IPRA returns to Athens
In her welcome remarks, IPRA President Esther Cobbah said the return to Athens had historical significance for the global public relations body.
According to Cobbah, the association developed its Code of Conduct for public relations practice in Athens 60 years ago.
“Sixty years ago, in Athens, we built the code of ethics for public relations practice. Today, we have come back to Athens to see how we have deployed those ethics in our work.”
The 2026 gathering therefore combined recognition of communication achievements with a reflection on professional ethics and the changing communication environment.
For the Nigeria Customs Service, Adeniyi’s award comes as the agency continues to position communication as part of its broader reform programme, with artificial intelligence now identified as an area it intends to develop further.
Ondo State has introduced a digital human resource system that will allow civil servants to access payslips, monitor their retirement timelines and support the electronic movement of workers from active service into pension.
The system, known as “Ondo AI”, is also designed to give authorised government officials instant access to personnel records and provide real-time information for workforce planning and administrative decisions.
The state government unveiled the platform on Thursday at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s Office, Akure, describing it as part of efforts to move civil service administration away from manual processes.
The launch comes as Ondo continues to address pension administration and retiree welfare. The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has previously proposed amendments to the state’s pension law, including measures aimed at protecting vulnerable retirees and ensuring more consistent pension remittances.
What Ondo AI means for civil servants
According to Godwin Odoma, Managing Director of SmartApps IT Limited, the company responsible for demonstrating the platform, Ondo AI will combine personnel administration, payroll management, retirement processing and pension migration.
The system is expected to hold digital records including photographs, appointment details, promotion letters, academic qualifications, complaints and other relevant documents.
Authorised officials will be able to retrieve the information electronically rather than depending solely on physical files.
For workers, one of the most visible features will be the self-service function.
Odoma said civil servants will be able to check their monthly payslips and determine the number of days remaining before their retirement.
“With the self-service application, you don’t have any reason to say you don’t know when you are going to retire.”
The platform will also alert government when an employee is approaching retirement, allowing the relevant authorities to identify workers due to leave active service in a particular month.
Pension transition is a key part of the system
The government says the system is designed to reduce gaps between retirement from active service and entry into the pension process.
Odoma said the automation would support pension migration and was intended to prevent unnecessary delays in moving retiring workers from the civil service to pension administration.
He also said the system would help Ondo meet automation and transparency requirements under the World Bank’s HOPE-GO programme.
The claims concern the system’s intended functions; the longer-term effect on pension payment timelines will depend on implementation, the accuracy of personnel records and the state’s ability to meet its pension obligations.
A wider pension reform picture
The digital launch comes against the backdrop of ongoing pension reforms in Ondo.
PenCom has previously called for changes to the Ondo State Pension Law, including a Minimum Pension Guarantee and an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order to support more consistent pension remittances. It also raised the possibility of making Pension Compliance Certificates a requirement for certain business activities in the state.
PenCom’s 2025 state implementation report listed Ondo among the states fully implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme and/or Contributory Defined Benefits Scheme at the time covered by the report.
That means the new digital system is being introduced within an existing pension framework rather than creating a new pension scheme.
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Aiyedatiwa: Data must be accurate
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said the purpose of digitisation extends beyond replacing paper files with computers.
He said government decisions depend on the quality of information available to those making them.
“We are living in an age in which information is power, data is an essential resource, and speed and accuracy presently define effective administration.”
The governor said the state could not continue operating a modern public service with systems designed for an earlier era.
“We cannot expect the 21st-century public service to operate an analogue system indefinitely, with systems designed principally for another era. This is the technological era. We cannot remain and be working with an analogue system.”
He linked accurate personnel data to the quality of government decisions.
“Leadership is about decision-making. And every leader takes decisions based on the information at hand. If the information is accurate, the decision will be near accurate. And if the information is inaccurate, the decision will be false.”
But Aiyedatiwa also warned that introducing technology would not automatically guarantee accurate administration.
He told officials responsible for the platform that the integrity of information entered into it must be protected.
“The integrity of the information entered into the system must be sacrosanct.”
Head of Service highlights workforce planning
Ondo State Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, said the digital platform was necessary because personnel administration had relied substantially on manual records and traditional procedures.
He said the new system would strengthen personnel records, support workforce planning and reduce delays in administrative processes.
The platform is also expected to give management a clearer picture of the state’s workforce, including staff deployment, competencies, career progression and areas where additional development may be required.
Odusanya urged officials to pay attention to confidentiality, data protection and the security of personnel information.
What happens next?
Aiyedatiwa urged civil servants to adopt the system while acknowledging that implementation could bring challenges and adjustments.
“For us, digitisation is not technology for its own sake. It is a means of simplifying processes, reducing unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks, improving institutional memory and bringing government closer to the people.”
He added:
“I urge every public servant to embrace this innovation. There may be adjustments and challenges along the way, but reform is never achieved by standing still. We have to keep moving.”
Odoma said civil servants can access the OndoPay self-service application by scanning the relevant code or downloading it from the Google Play Store and entering their CS number.
The effectiveness of the system will ultimately depend on the completeness and accuracy of the data entered, the security of workers’ personal information and how efficiently government departments use the platform.
For civil servants, however, the immediate change is straightforward: personnel records, payslips and retirement information are being moved closer to their fingertips rather than remaining solely within government offices.
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