Ten innovative startups have emerged as winners in the second round of JusticeTechNG 2025, Nigeria’s pioneering national hackathon and accelerator programme focused on driving reform in the justice sector through technology.
Launched by the Special Assistant to the President on Justice Sector Reform and ICT/Digital and Innovative Technology, the programme aims to modernise the country’s justice system by supporting digital solutions that address systemic inefficiencies and barriers to access. The initiative kicked off with a three-day hackathon held in Lagos from June 3 to 5, and is now in its accelerator phase, running from June 10 to July 10. It will culminate in a Demo Day where the finalists will pitch their innovations to a panel of judges made up of government officials, investors, and legal experts.
Out of more than 80 entries submitted nationwide, the final ten were chosen based on relevance, eligibility, and innovation potential. The selection was carried out by a 14-member panel of experts drawn from the legal, tech, civil society, and business sectors.
The selected teams are tackling critical issues such as legal aid access, digital court systems, justice transparency, crime prevention, prison reintegration, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups in legal processes. Their innovations include digital platforms for legal rights awareness, e-court filing tools, legal education apps, and solutions focused on improving justice access for women, children, and disadvantaged communities.
Each team will now undergo a four-week accelerator programme offering mentorship, technical guidance, and exposure to policymakers. They will also compete for ₦22 million in prize support, including seed funding and in-kind services. The top prize is ₦10 million (₦5 million in cash and ₦5 million in services), with ₦7 million awarded for second place and ₦5 million for third.
Speaking at the programme’s launch, the Chief Judge of Borno State, who also chairs the Judiciary Information Technology Committee of the National Judicial Council, emphasised the urgent need for digital innovation in Nigeria’s justice system. He described the initiative as a timely intervention to improve access and enhance the efficiency of judicial services.
The programme is backed by a high-level Advisory Board composed of senior figures from the judiciary, academia, legal practice, and civic technology. It signals a growing recognition of technology’s role in strengthening justice delivery and institutional reform in Nigeria.
According to the Co-Founder of Xchange Box, the presence of the Advisory Board provides not only strategic direction but also reinforces the credibility of the programme. He noted that JusticeTechNG is not just another hackathon, but a national effort to build viable, scalable solutions that justice institutions can adopt and grow.
Encouraging participants to remain resilient, the Chair of the Multidisciplinary Committee acknowledged the difficult journey of building a startup and expressed confidence in the quality of teams selected for the accelerator phase.
At the event, the Assistant Chief of the High Court Division, representing the Administrative Judge of the Federal High Court in Lagos, stated that the programme aligns with ongoing court automation efforts, such as electronic filing systems. She welcomed the potential of technology to boost efficiency and widen access to the justice system for all Nigerians.
A legal practitioner and managing partner at a prominent law firm stressed the importance of simplicity and scalability in legal tech solutions. He highlighted persistent challenges in the justice sector, including delays in judgments and restricted access to court documents, calling for innovations that directly tackle these long-standing problems.
JusticeTechNG 2025 marks a bold step in Nigeria’s broader justice reform agenda, offering a platform for tech-driven startups to shape the future of legal services and build a more inclusive, transparent, and accessible justice system.
