The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for stronger investment in locally developed technology, saying Nigeria must reduce its dependence on foreign software and build a more self-reliant digital economy.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Dr Aminu Maida, made the call in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the fourth NCC Hackathon Live Show. The event brought together innovators developing technology aimed at improving digital access for persons with disabilities and other underserved groups.
Maida, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said Nigeria could no longer afford to remain mainly a consumer of technology developed abroad.
He said the country needed to move towards creating software and digital products designed around its own economic and social realities.
According to him, the hackathon demonstrated how Nigerian innovators could develop practical solutions instead of relying heavily on imported technology.
The solutions showcased included artificial intelligence-powered speech-to-text tools, voice-enabled public platforms, accessible USSD services and mobile applications designed to make digital services easier to use for people who are often left behind.
Maida described these innovations as important building blocks for Nigeria’s technological independence.
He said investing in local technology could help make the digital economy more secure, affordable and better suited to the needs of Nigerians while reducing exposure to external disruptions.
However, he stressed that developing a prototype was only the beginning. The innovators would need funding, infrastructure, mentorship and commercial partnerships to turn their ideas into businesses capable of reaching millions of users.
He therefore called on venture capital firms, telecommunications companies and state governments to invest in the startups and help take their products beyond the competition stage.
“We ask you not to view these innovators as contestants, but as future founders, future partners, and future vendors,” Maida said.
The push for inclusive technology is also significant because millions of Nigerians face some form of disability or difficulty with everyday activities.
Maida, citing World Bank estimates, said about 25 million Nigerians experience at least one form of disability, while around 3.6 million have significant difficulties with functioning.
As more essential services move online, he warned that people with disabilities could face greater exclusion from education, employment, banking, healthcare and other social activities if digital platforms are not designed to accommodate their needs.
Telecommunications operator MTN Nigeria also indicated its willingness to support some of the innovators.
Speaking for the company, Senior Manager, Strategy and Innovation, Chinyelu Chikwendu, said MTN could provide infrastructure and partnerships to help suitable startups expand.
She identified resources such as cloud services, the company’s data centre and API marketplace as platforms innovators could potentially use to develop and scale their products.
Chikwendu also encouraged the 20 participants in the hackathon to apply for MTN’s next Cloud Accelerator Programme, which offers startups access to mentorship, funding and infrastructure support.
The Central Bank of Nigeria also expressed interest in the innovations, particularly those capable of improving financial inclusion.
Amadi Kenneth of the CBN’s Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion Department said the apex bank was interested in technologies that could bring excluded Nigerians into the formal financial system.
He identified women, young people, persons with disabilities and residents of remote communities as priority groups.
Meanwhile, NCC Director of Digital Economy, Helen Obi, urged financial institutions to provide more funding for young technology entrepreneurs.
The competition ended with Sora taking first place and winning N3 million. ClearSignal came second with N2 million, while Ikor finished third with N1 million. The three winners emerged from five finalists, alongside Aditus and Axol.
The NCC said the real success of the programme would depend on whether the innovations can secure investment, enter the market and improve digital access for Nigerians beyond the hackathon.
