By CHIDIEBERE NWANKWO
The inaugural session of the .ng Webinar Series organised by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) was more than just another virtual meeting; it was a rallying cry to recognize the .ng domain as a strategic national asset.
With the theme “Putting Nigeria First in the Digital Age: Why .ng Matters,” the session brought together leaders, experts, and citizens to explore how this simple two-letter domain could hold the key to Nigeria’s digital destiny.
In his Keynote address, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Fasua, explained that the top level domain name remains Nigeria’s identity on the internet and a tool to draw investment into the country.
“This is our chance to rebrand Nigeria online,” Fasua said. “The .ng domain is more than a web address. It’s a cultural and economic gateway.”
He spoke of a future built on data sovereignty, local innovation, and pride in ownership — where Nigerians control their own narrative online, from content to commerce.
Chief Operating Officer of NiRA and co-host of the series, Oluwaseyi Onasanya, set the tone: “We must challenge outdated views, and see .ng as more than a domain, it’s an inclusive, transformative tool for every Nigerian, from government institutions and businesses to creators and communities.”
In his welcome address to participants, President of NiRA, Adesola Akinsanya, noted that .ng is not just a technical feature of the internet, but a critical infrastructure, as essential as roads or electricity, and should be seen as such.
“Other nations use their domains to drive economic growth, protect their digital borders, and assert national identity,” he said. “We must do the same. Policies matter but before policy, people must believe .ng belongs to them.”
He traced the positive effects of the .ng ccTLD to the economy, noting that it has brought associated businesses, ensures country visibility and curbs capital flight.
The conversation deepened during the panel session, moderated by the Editor at Techeconomy, Peter Oluka, and has MD/CEO, IXPN, and former president of NiRA, Muhammed Rudman; member, Executive Board Director of NiRA, Abibat Olatunji; and CTO, Webguru.ng, Agim Ikwen, as panelists.
Together, they explored how the .ng domain is already shaping Nigeria’s digital economy, and what it will take to deepen that impact. From improving infrastructure and reducing dependency on foreign DNS servers to increasing public trust and adoption, the experts laid out a roadmap to digital resilience.
The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Webguru.ng, Agim Ikwen, while noting that out of the between 1.4 to 1.5 million registered Nigerian domain names globally, only about 200 thousand are registered to .ng., called on Nigerians to patronize the indigenous resource.
Fasua however lamented the low adoption of the .ng domain, which is the internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Nigeria, and encouraged businesses and private sector organisations, such as religious bodies and academic institutions to register with NiRA.
He further decried the prominent use of foreign top domain names such as .io in the financial technology (fintech) and entertainment sectors.
He however applauded the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP)for its insistence that all its contractors must register with .ng.
In her position, Member, Executive Board of Director, NiRA, Abibat Olatunji called for awareness creation. She noted: Although NiRA is trying, but more need to be done.” She called for targeted campaign towards women and the youth, where incentives can also be offered.
Speaking on same line, MD/CEO, IXPN, and former president of NiRA, Muhammed Rudman, while pointing out that .com is just slightly more expensive that .ng, but also has the first mover advantage, NiRA needs to do a lot of sensitization to get Nigerians to tap into the benefits of the .ng ccTLD.
Ikwen further highlighted some of the barriers to adoption of .ng ccTLD, and charged NiRA and all stakeholders to work towards dispelling these barriers.
The barriers, he noted include:
- The misconception in believing that the .ng limits users to only playing and being visible in Nigeria.
- The .ng is way more expensive than other ccTLDs
- The erroneous belief that when you make your products look global, they become stronger. A notion he said is wrong because it is when you have a local presence that global players will reckon with you.
- A misconception that .ng is not as secured as foreign domains. “But security standards by NiRA meets global standards. We have sorted the privacy issue,” he said.
- The assumption that .ng is for government, which he said is a wrong notion because they also have their slot in .ng.
“The .ng Webinar Series is only just beginning. Future sessions will continue to bring thought leaders, policymakers, tech innovators, and everyday users into the conversation. Together, they’ll shape a future where Nigeria doesn’t just participate online, it thrives with confidence, identity, and pride,” the organisers assured.
