SORA has won the fourth edition of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Hackathon Live Show 2026, securing the N3 million grand prize for an inclusive technology solution designed to connect persons with disabilities to employment and skills development opportunities.
Clear Signal emerged second and received N2 million, while IKOR placed third and won N1 million.
The winners were announced at the end of the two-day hackathon themed “Technology Without Barriers,” which brought together 20 teams of innovators, software developers, entrepreneurs, researchers, students and persons with disabilities from across Nigeria.
SORA’s winning solution is an inclusive job-matching and adaptive skills platform for verified persons with disabilities, connecting users with employment opportunities and skills development resources.
Clear Signal developed a system that enables blind, visually impaired, deaf and hard-of-hearing electricity consumers to receive accessible power outage alerts through voice calls, text messages and visual notifications.
IKOR, the third-place winner, is an artificial intelligence-powered voice dictation and writing tool designed to address barriers associated with expensive hardware, poor internet connectivity and physical typing.
All participating teams received consolation prizes and certificates for their contributions to advancing digital inclusion and accessible technology development.
Speaking on behalf of the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, described young Nigerian innovators as a critical resource for the country’s future economic growth.
“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,” Makama said.
Maida said the cost of devices, inadequate digital skills, limited access to assistive technologies and poor accessibility features on some digital platforms remained significant barriers to digital participation.
He stressed that technology should remove rather than create barriers, describing the hackathon as a strategic platform for developing practical solutions that support a digitally inclusive society.
The NCC chief also urged investors, telecommunications operators and other stakeholders to support the commercialisation of promising innovations emerging from the programme.
According to him, accessible technologies could unlock new markets, expand consumer participation and bring more Nigerians into the formal economy as entrepreneurs, creators and digital citizens.
The Director of the NCC Digital Economy Department, Helen Obi, said the hackathon was established to promote indigenous innovation while advancing digital inclusion and universal access.
She said participating teams developed solutions addressing challenges in healthcare, education, emergency communications, accessible USSD services, AI-powered sign-language translation, voice-enabled services and assistive technologies for visually impaired users.
Obi also highlighted the NCC’s indigenous Hackathon Judge Software, developed to automate and standardise the judging process.
At the opening ceremony, Makama, represented by the Director of Zonal Operations, Usman Malah, said the initiative reflected the Commission’s commitment to building an inclusive digital society where technology creates opportunities for everyone.
She urged participants to develop solutions that are affordable, scalable, user-friendly and capable of delivering measurable social impact.
In a goodwill message, Chinyelu Chikwendu, Senior Manager, Strategy and Innovation at MTN Nigeria, commended the NCC for supporting innovation, startups and solutions aimed at improving lives, particularly its focus on persons with disabilities.
Eneh Omawumi, Head of the Gender Desk Unit at the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, also commended the Commission for promoting innovation, empowerment and inclusion.
Similarly, Amadi Kenneth of the Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria said several of the solutions presented had strong potential to deepen financial inclusion among women, youths, persons with disabilities and other underserved groups.
Kenneth said the CBN was willing to collaborate with the NCC and participating innovators to explore solutions capable of advancing digital and financial inclusion across the country.
The NCC said it would continue to work with technical partners, mentors, judges and other stakeholders to strengthen indigenous technology development and ensure that the benefits of Nigeria’s growing digital economy are accessible to all citizens.
