USPF Opens Nationwide Call for Homegrown Tech Solutions

The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), with implementation by Ubulu Africa, has opened applications for the USPF Changemaker Challenge, which was launched on November 2, 2026.

The national competition is open to homegrown ICT solutions that improve life for unserved and underserved communities in Nigeria.
USPF’s 2024 ICT gap study identified 87 clusters with an estimated population of 23.37 million people in unserved or underserved areas with little or no access to telecommunications services. Many of the problems these communities face in farming, learning, healthcare, energy and access to money can be eased with the right digital tools, and the people best placed to build them are often Nigerians who understand those problems first-hand.

The Challenge invites Nigerian-based innovation teams and early-stage startups to put forward practical solutions in one of five areas: agriculture, education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and clean and affordable energy. Teams must have between two and five members, all aged 18 and above. Application is free and opens at uspf.gov.ng until 15 November 2026 at 11:59 PM WAT.

Entries will be assessed on whether the solution has a clear ICT component, responds to one of the published problem statements, and shows credible evidence that it can work for the people it is meant to serve.

The Challenge is designed to reach innovators in every part of the country. After screening, 50 teams will advance: one from each state and the FCT, and 13 more selected on merit. These teams will demonstrate their solutions live at the Regional Demo Days, one for each geopolitical zone. One team from each zone will go on to the National Demo Day, where the top three will share a ₦10 million prize pool. All six finalists will then join a four-week incubation programme.

Chief Executive Officer, Ubulu Africa, Dr. Odiong Akpan, said: “Innovation should not be limited by geography. Through the USPF Changemaker Challenge, we want to reach innovators across Nigeria who understand the challenges facing unserved and underserved communities and have practical solutions to address them. We encourage teams with promising ICT-enabled solutions to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to demonstrate their ideas and access support to develop them further.”

According to USPF, full eligibility criteria, the challenge areas and the application form are available from uspf.gov.ng.

The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to expand access to affordable information and communication technology (ICT) services in rural, unserved and underserved communities. Through infrastructure development, partnerships and targeted interventions, the Fund works to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide and promote greater social and economic inclusion.

Ubulu Africa is an innovation and ecosystem development organisation working to strengthen Africa’s innovation ecosystem through venture building, partnerships, research, policy advisory, capacity development and digital innovation. The organisation designs and delivers programmes that help innovators, entrepreneurs and institutions turn ideas into practical solutions. Ubulu Africa is the implementing partner for the USPF Changemaker Challenge.