By Al-Mustapha A. Mustapha
Students of the Special Education Centre, Bauchi State, have emerged overall winners of the National Girls in ICT Competition organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
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The Bauchi team, which included a deaf student, clinched the top prize with an AI-powered application, Hands That Speak (Sign Care), designed to bridge the communication gap between healthcare workers and deaf patients.
The team, comprising Aisha Mustapha Bala, Rukayya Ahmad and Mary Agwon, represented the North-East and outperformed contestants from the five other geopolitical zones at the grand finale held in Abuja.
Speaking after the presentation, team leader Aisha Mustapha Bala said the idea was inspired by the communication challenges deaf patients often face when seeking medical care.
“We live with deaf people in our communities, schools and workplaces. When they go to hospitals, many cannot adequately explain what they are feeling to doctors.
“This communication barrier has led to loss of lives. Many deaf patients suffer because they cannot effectively communicate with healthcare providers. That is why we developed this application to bridge the gap between doctors and deaf patients,” she said.
Expressing delight over the victory, Aisha said the recognition would motivate the team to further improve the application.
“We are very happy. Now our dream will come true. We have not finished developing the app and will continue working on it,” she added.
Other finalists were Federal Government Girls College, Cross River State (South-South), which came second; Resonance Science School, Abia State (South-East), third; Sweet Heaven High School, Kano State (North-West), fourth; Government Science Secondary School, Abuja (North-Central), fifth; and Kidvarc High School, Osun State (South-West), sixth.
The six finalist teams received cash prizes of N1 million each during a dinner hosted by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
‘We’re raising solution providers, not just coders’ — Minister
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the Girls in ICT Competition is aimed at nurturing young Nigerians into solution providers capable of addressing societal challenges through technology.
Tijani said the initiative goes beyond encouraging students to develop technology products, stressing that it equips them with problem-solving skills and an innovative mindset.
He commended teachers mentoring the participants, noting that their guidance is critical to helping students transform ideas into marketable products.
The minister cited the success of young Nigerian entrepreneurs who have founded globally recognised technology firms and solutions, saying the achievements of the contestants demonstrated the country’s immense digital potential.
He also highlighted government efforts to create an enabling environment for young innovators. According to him, the ministry, through its agencies and programmes, has invested in more than 5,000 computer laboratories in underserved communities to expand access to digital tools and learning opportunities.
Tijani further said the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, launched under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, is designed to prepare young Nigerians for technology-driven jobs and position the country as a leading exporter of digital talent.
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