The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged young innovators to develop affordable, accessible and scalable technologies capable of addressing barriers faced by persons with disabilities and other underserved Nigerians.
The Commission made the call at the fourth edition of its NCC Hackathon, held in Abuja, where participants were challenged to use technology to create solutions for challenges affecting different segments of society.
The two-day event, themed “Technology Without Barriers,” focuses on developing digital solutions that can improve access to healthcare, education, employment, emergency services and other essential services.
The NCC stressed the need for innovations that cater particularly to people living in rural communities, persons with disabilities and Nigerians with limited access to reliable internet connectivity.
Among the solutions being explored at the hackathon are sign-language translation platforms, voice-enabled services, accessible USSD applications, image-to-voice technology and inclusive job-matching systems.
The Commission said some of the promising innovations developed during the programme could receive further support to enable their development, pilot deployment and eventual expansion.
The initiative is aimed at encouraging young Nigerians to leverage technology to promote inclusion and increase participation in the country’s growing digital economy.
