SORA emerged as the overall winner of the fourth edition of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Hackathon Live Show 2026, clinching the N3 million grand prize. Clear Signal and IKOR secured second and third places, receiving N2 million and N1 million, respectively, in a competition designed to develop innovative technology solutions for persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
  
The two-day event, themed: “Technology without Barriers,” brought together 20 teams of innovators, developers, entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and persons with disabilities to expand digital participation and support inclusive growth. All teams received consolation prizes and certificates of participation.
  
The winning solution, SORA, is an inclusive job-matching and adaptive skills platform for verified persons with disabilities in Nigeria, connecting users to employment opportunities and skills development resources. Clear Signal, which placed second, enables blind, visually impaired, deaf, and hard-of-hearing electricity consumers to receive accessible outage alerts via voice calls, text messages, and visual notifications. IKOR, the third-placed solution, is an AI-powered voice dictation and writing tool designed to overcome barriers such as expensive hardware, poor internet connectivity, and physical typing.
  
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to leveraging innovation to address digital exclusion. Represented by Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, he described young Nigerian innovators as a critical resource for national growth, stating: “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 noted that barriers such as device costs, inadequate digital skills, limited access to assistive technologies, and poor accessibility features continue to hinder participation. He emphasised: “Technology should not create new barriers; at its best, technology should remove them.” Highlighting the economic value of accessible technology, he added: “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.”
  
At the opening ceremony, Rimini Makama, represented by Usman Malah, Director of Zonal Operations, stressed that the true measure of technological advancement lies in its ability to improve lives and empower every member of society. She urged participants to develop affordable, scalable, user-friendly solutions that remove obstacles and create opportunities.
   
Director of the Digital Economy Department, Helen Obi, explained that the Hackathon was conceived to promote indigenous innovation while advancing digital inclusion. She noted that teams developed solutions addressing accessibility challenges in healthcare, education, emergency communications, USSD services, AI-powered sign language translation, voice-enabled services, and assistive technologies for visually impaired users. She also highlighted the Commission’s indigenous NCC Hackathon Judge Software, developed to automate and standardise the judging process.
  
In goodwill messages, MTN Nigeria’s Senior Manager, Strategy and Innovation, Chinyelu Chikwendu, praised the NCC as “a regulator with a difference” that actively supports the digital ecosystem. Eneh Omawumi of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology commended the fairness of the competition and encouraged participants to continue developing their ideas. Amadi Kenneth of the Central Bank of Nigeria described the Hackathon as a worthwhile initiative with strong potential to deepen financial inclusion for women, youths, persons with disabilities, and underserved communities.