An initiative of the Nigeria AI Collective
AI for the Visually Impaired Hackathon
Build AI that works for blind and low-vision Nigerians
Millions of Nigerians live with blindness or low vision. The tools that could help them read a form, cross a road, recognise a naira note or sit an exam were mostly not built here — and mostly do not work in our languages, on our networks, or at prices people can afford. This is a national call to change that. Bring a team, build something real, and we will help you put it in people's hands.
- Applications open 25 October 2026
- Applications close 15 November 2026
- Teams of 3 to 5 people
- Win up to ₦3,000,000
Supported by:
About the hackathon
This is an inclusive, pan-Nigerian learning hackathon focused on building AI that improves daily life for blind and low-vision Nigerians. It is part of a wider national initiative by the Nigeria AI Collective under Nigeria's National AI Strategy, which also includes a national stakeholder consultation and a landscape white paper.
It is not a one-off competition. Promising solutions carry on into mentorship, user testing and pilot deployment, with support to reach the schools, communities and institutions where they are actually needed.
What we are aiming for
- More young Nigerians in work, through hands-on AI experience that employers recognise
- Solutions that get built and deployed, not just theorised
- Deeper local AI and machine learning skill, and more Nigerian-made content
- Real tools solving real accessibility problems
Why this matters
- 2.2 billionpeople worldwide live with vision impairment, according to the World Health Organization
- 1 billionof those cases are preventable, or still unaddressed
- Almost noneof the AI tools that could help are built for Nigeria
Nigeria's National Priority Assistive Products List already recognises assistive technology as a national priority.
The technology exists. Microsoft's Seeing AI describes text, people, objects and currency. Be My Eyes connects blind users to sighted volunteers and to AI. But almost none of it is built for here — no Nigerian languages, no naira recognition, no offline mode for patchy networks, and prices set for other markets.
That gap is the challenge.
The theme
Building AI that works for blind and low-vision Nigerians: in our languages, on our networks, at prices people can afford.
Choose a challenge area — pick one, you do not have to cover them all
- Reading and understanding documents — printed text, forms, exam papers, medicine labels
- Voice-first tools for education, public services and getting online
- Getting around independently — navigation, obstacle detection, describing surroundings
- AI assistants that speak Nigerian languages
- Making learning materials accessible for blind and low-vision students
- Tools that help visually impaired professionals work and be productive
- Access to health, transport, banking and government services
- Tools that work offline or on very little data, on modest phones
Important: Solutions designed with blind and low-vision users will always score higher than solutions designed for them. If your team does not include someone with lived experience, tell us in your application how you will involve them.
Who can apply
Anyone aged 18 or over living in Nigeria. Under-18s can take part with written consent from a parent or guardian.
Students, graduates, developers, researchers, designers, product people, start-ups and accessibility practitioners are all welcome. You do not need to be at university.
People with lived experience of blindness or low vision are strongly encouraged to apply. Accommodations are provided at every stage — just tell us what you need.
Teams of 3 to 5 people. Apply as a team, or apply on your own and we will place you in one.
What we look for when we select teams
- Real, checkable skill in AI, data science, software or hardware, design or product — for example on GitHub, Kaggle or Zindi
- A mix of skills across the team, not five people who all do the same thing
- At least one member who genuinely understands the problem you are solving
- Willingness to see it through to December
We select across all six geopolitical zones, and we actively look for gender balance and for teams that include people with disabilities.
How it works
-
Stage 1 — Apply
25 October to 15 November 2026
Register as a team of 3 to 5, or on your own. Applications close at 11:59 pm WAT on 15 November.
-
Stage 2 — Team review
16 to 25 November 2026
We review every application and announce the selected teams. Strong individual applicants are placed into new teams.
-
Stage 3 — Briefing session
26 November 2026
A live online briefing where experts walk through the theme and the challenge areas, and you can ask anything. Attendance is compulsory — any team that does not attend is replaced by a team from the waiting list.
-
Stage 4 — Build, with a mentor
26 November to 10 December 2026
Every team is paired with a mentor. You have just over two weeks to build and submit. Use any language, framework, open-source platform or API you like. Technical clinics run throughout.
-
Stage 5 — Final demo and judging
11 to 20 December 2026
Shortlisted teams demonstrate and pitch their solution to a panel of judges. Winners are announced and prizes awarded.
-
Stage 6 — Pilot support
From February 2027
The strongest solutions are supported into real pilot deployment, with user testing in schools, communities and institutions.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 23 October 2026 | Hackathon launched at the Nigeria AI Summit, Abuja |
| 25 October 2026 | Applications open |
| 15 November 2026 | Applications close, 11:59 pm WAT |
| 25 November 2026 | Selected teams announced |
| 26 November 2026 | Briefing session (compulsory) |
| 10 December 2026 | Solution submission deadline |
| 11 to 20 December 2026 | Final demo, judging and awards |
| From February 2027 | Pilot deployment support begins |
Prizes
- 1st place₦1,500,000
- 2nd place₦1,000,000
- 3rd place₦500,000
Every team that reaches the build stage also gets
- A dedicated mentor for the whole build period
- A certificate of participation
- Introductions to funders, schools and institutions working in accessibility
- A route to real pilot deployment for the strongest solutions
- Recognition across Nigeria AI Collective channels
What you submit
- A working prototype that judges can test, with a basic interface
- Documentation of your solution, using our template
- A pitch and demo video recorded, no longer than five minutes
- A short accessibility note who you tested with, what they told you, and what you changed as a result
How you will be judged
| Criterion | What the judges are asking |
|---|---|
| Relevance | Does it solve one of the problems we set out? |
| Accessibility and inclusion | Does it actually work for a blind or low-vision user? Was it tested with one? |
| Usability | How easy is it to use? |
| Performance | How well does it solve the problem? |
| Understandability | Can someone else understand what it does, and how? |
| Value-sensitivity | Does it respect the values, ethics and dignity of the people using it? |
| Data quality | How good is the data behind it? |
| Reproducibility | Could someone else rebuild it from what you submitted? |
| Testability | How easy is it to test, or to check a change? |
| Changeability | How easy is it to improve or extend later? |
| Documentation | Is it properly documented, following the template? |
How to apply
- Decide whether you are applying as a team or on your own.
- Fill in the application form. It takes about ten minutes.
- Wait for our email. Selected teams are announced by 25 November 2026.
- Attend the briefing session on 26 November 2026. This one is compulsory.
If you cannot find a team, apply on your own. If you are selected we will place you in a team.
Need an accessible version of the form, or help completing it? Email INSERT-EMAIL or call INSERT-PHONE and someone will fill it in with you over the phone.
Rules
- Treat facilitators, mentors, judges and other participants with respect.
- No violent, discriminatory, obscene or defamatory content.
- Stay on topic.
- Use your real name.
Use of your entry
By submitting a solution or prototype you grant the organisers an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, review, assess, test and analyse your submission and its content in connection with this project, and to use your submission in any medium for the purposes of the project. Submissions may be made open-source.
General conditions
To the extent allowed by law, by taking part you agree to release and hold harmless the Nigeria AI Collective and its partners from any liability for injury, loss or damage of any kind arising in connection with any prize won.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to take part?
Yes. There is no fee at any stage.
Do I need experience in AI?
You need some. We look for checkable skill somewhere in your team — code on GitHub, a Kaggle or Zindi profile, a project you have shipped. You do not all need to be experts.
Do I need to be a student?
No. Students, graduates, working developers, designers, researchers and start-ups are all welcome.
Can blind and low-vision people take part?
Yes, and we would very much like you to. Tell us what you need on the form — screen-reader-friendly materials, documents in advance, a session by telephone, Braille or large print, help with data costs — and we will arrange it.
How big should my team be?
Between 3 and 5 people.
I do not have a team. Can I still apply?
Yes. Apply on your own, and if you are selected we will place you in a team.
Is it online or in person?
Applications, the briefing, the build period and mentorship are all online. The final pitch is hybrid — if you cannot travel you can send a recorded demo and answer the judges' questions online.
What exactly do I submit?
A testable prototype with a basic interface, documentation using our template, a pitch and demo video of no more than five minutes, and a short note on who you tested with.
Will I get a mentor?
Yes. Every selected team is paired with a mentor for the whole build period, and there are technical clinics during the build.
What happens to my solution afterwards?
You keep building it. The strongest solutions get support into pilot deployment from February 2027, plus introductions to funders and institutions. Submissions may be made open-source — see the Rules section.
Who is behind this?
The Nigeria AI Collective, a community of practice working to make AI in Nigeria safe, ethical and useful.