NCC Advocates Local Tech Investment to Boost Digital Sovereignty

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for heightened investment in locally developed technologies to diminish Nigeria's reliance on foreign software and enhance its digital sovereignty. This appeal was made by the Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, during the closing ceremony of the fourth NCC Hackathon Live Show in Abuja.

Represented by Rimini Makama, the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Maida stated that Nigeria needs to transition from being a passive importer to a creator of assistive technology tailored to local needs. He highlighted the hackathon's innovations, which included AI-powered speech-to-text technologies and accessible mobile applications, as foundational for technological self-reliance.

Maida urged venture capitalists, telecommunications operators, and state governments to invest in these innovations, emphasizing the urgency due to the risk of exclusion faced by millions of Nigerians, particularly those with disabilities. Chinyelu Chikwendu from MTN Nigeria pledged support for the innovators, offering infrastructure and partnership opportunities.