The Nigerian Communications Commission has called for increased investment in locally developed technologies to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign software and strengthen the country’s digital sovereignty.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, made the call on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the fourth NCC Hackathon Live Show in Abuja, where innovators showcased technology solutions targeted at persons with disabilities and other digitally excluded Nigerians.
Maida, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said Nigeria must move from being largely dependent on imported software to developing technologies tailored to local needs.
“Through this hackathon, we are transforming Nigeria from a passive importer of foreign software into a creator of locally engineered assistive technology that serves the ability of all its citizens,” he said.
He added that the solutions developed at the hackathon, ranging from artificial intelligence-powered speech-to-text technologies to voice-enabled public platforms, accessible USSD solutions and inclusive mobile applications, represented building blocks for technological self-reliance.
