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 22nd October 2026
- Applications close 12th November 2026
- Teams of 3 to 5 people
- Win up to ₦2,500,000
Supported by:
Hackathon Objectives
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
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.
Hackathon Tracks
- Multilingual Voice Assistant AI-powered voice solutions that help people with visual impairment access information and services in Nigerian languages.
- Independent Mobility and Navigation AI tools that support safer, more independent navigation and understanding of physical environments.
- Accessible Financial Services AI solutions that make financial information, documents, and digital services more accessible.
- Employment and Livelihoods AI tools that help people with visual impairment access jobs, work opportunities, and entrepreneurship.
- Inclusive Education and Learning AI solutions that make learning materials, educational content, and learning experiences more accessible.
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
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Stage 1 — Apply
22nd October to 12th November 2026
Register as a team of 3 to 5, or on your own. Applications close at 11:59 pm WAT on 15 November.
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Stage 2 — Team review
16th to 25th November 2026
We review every application and announce the selected teams. Strong individual applicants are placed into new teams.
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Stage 3 — Briefing session
27th 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.
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Stage 4 — Build, with a mentor
27th November to 10th 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.
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Stage 5 — Final demo and judging
11th to 20th December 2026
Shortlisted teams demonstrate and pitch their solution to a panel of judges. Winners are announced and prizes awarded.
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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 |
|---|---|
| 22nd October 2026 | Hackathon launched at the Nigeria AI Summit, Abuja |
| 22nd October 2026 | Applications open |
| 12th November 2026 | Applications close, 11:59 pm WAT |
| 26th November 2026 | Selected teams announced |
| 27th November 2026 | Briefing session (compulsory) |
| 10th December 2026 | Solution submission deadline |
| 11th to 20th December 2026 | Final demo, judging and awards |
| From February 2027 | Pilot deployment support begins |
Prizes
- 1st place₦1,200,000
- 2nd place₦800,000
- 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
- Opportunities to engage with relevant funders, schools, and institutions working in accessibility, where appropriate
- 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.
- selected teams are announced 26th November, 2026.
- Attend the briefing session on 27th 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 NigerianAICollective@datasciencenigeria.ai
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to take part?
Yes. There is no fee at any stage.
Do I need experience in AI?
You should have a beginner-level experience. We look forward for checkable skills in your team like 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?
Students, graduates, working developers, designers, researchers and start-ups are all welcome.
Can blind and low-vision people take part?
Yes. We encourage inclusive participation by having persons with visual impairment involved in each team as validators or testers.
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.