The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), on Wednesday, successfully concluded its 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM), marking a significant milestone in the Association’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity. The hybrid event, held at the NiRA Secretariat and virtually via Zoom, brought together over 325 members, stakeholders, and media to review a transformative year and elect new leadership.
The AGM, a cornerstone event in NiRA’s calendar, provided a platform for robust engagement and strategic planning. This year’s meeting was particularly crucial as it included the election of new members to the Executive Board of Directors (EBoD).
In his address, NiRA President, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, highlighted 2024 as a year of unprecedented growth and innovation for the Association. Key achievements included the registration of 94,723 new .ng domain names and 61,227 renewals, bringing the total number of .ng domains under management to an impressive 212,890. The accreditation of 23 new registrars further underscored NiRA’s expanding reach and collaborative success with its partners.
A pivotal moment was the implementation of DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC), significantly enhancing the integrity and trust of the .ng namespace. NiRA also introduced a Registrar Incentive Programme in Q3 2024, rewarding top-performing registrars for their vital role in driving .ng adoption.
While speaking on partnerships, Akinsanya highlighted several strategic collaborations across government and private sectors. These include NiRA’s long-standing partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), high-level discussions with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to strengthen the national data and privacy framework, and ongoing collaboration with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry to support businesses in thriving online. He also mentioned engagements with the Nigeria Computer Society in line with shared goals of advancing Nigeria’s internet space, and partnership with the Innovation Support Network (ISN Hubs), among others, all of which the Association hopes to drive further this year.
Other notable milestones included the successful launch of Tech Convergence 1.0, a flagship event fostering discussions at the intersection of technology and creativity, and the 7th edition of the prestigious .ng Awards, which celebrated 19 organizations and 16 individuals for their outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. Mr. Akinsanya also reaffirmed NiRA’s dedication to Corporate Social Responsibility through the NiRA Kids Foundation (NKF) and the .ng Academy, focusing on digital empowerment and capacity building.
The AGM also saw active participation from members who emphasized the need for deeper engagement across the Association’s activities, reflecting a shared vision for strengthening NiRA’s position in Nigeria’s evolving digital landscape.
The elections, conducted in strict adherence to NiRA’s guidelines, resulted in the emergence of new Executive Board of Directors members: Mrs. Mary Olaseni (COO, GO54 – formerly Whogohost); Mrs. Abibat Olatunji (PLO, CPN), and Mr. Ahmad Mukoshy (CEO, Gigalayer). Additionally, existing board members Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (MD/CEO, Anambra State ICT Agency) and Mr. Destiny Amana (MD, icecool contracts Limited) assumed new roles within the board as Financial Secretary and Treasurer respectively. NiRA extended its sincere gratitude to the outgoing board members for their invaluable service and contributions.
The seamless execution of the 17th AGM was a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the NiRA Secretariat.
NiRA remains steadfast in its mission to build a secure, accessible, and resilient digital ecosystem through the .ng domain, thereby reinforcing Nigeria’s digital identity on the global stage. Working collaboratively with its stakeholders, NiRA is poised to continue advancing innovation, national growth, and internet development in Nigeria.
