…. Calls For More Registration Into .NG Domain
Custodian of the country’s Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD), .ng, the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), has applauded the growth trajectory in subscription to the domain name.
Speaking while giving account of the Executive Board of Directors’ (EBoD’s) stewardship in the past one year, the President, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya told stakeholders that as at February 2024, NiRA registrars have registered 215,441 .ng domain names. The event was the association’s 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos recently.
He said that .ng as Nigeria’s Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) has become increasingly popular for use in websites and email addresses.
The number of .ng domain names reached 212,890 as disclosed in the NiRA Audited Account for the year ending December 31st 2023, which also shows an increase by 29,098 when compared to 183,792 recorded as at December 2022.
Mr. Akinsanya also applauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration on the Renewed Hope agenda aimed at leveraging the digital economy to better the worth of the citizens.
He also commended the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who has shown understanding of the need to intensify the adoption of Nigeria country code top-level domain (ccTLD), .ng within and outside the government circle, adding that NiRA as a multi-stakeholder-led organization has enjoyed support from the Kashifu Inuwa led National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), especially in the crusade for both public and private organisations to switch over to .ng.
He pointed out: “The need for both the government and private institutions to switch-over to .ng brand is no longer negotiable in view of the significant role it plays in the country’s digital economy agenda”.
Akinsanya further said that NiRA supports the Minister in his efforts to ‘promote transparency in governance, protecting the Nigerian cyberspace, and promotion of the Digital Nigeria agenda’.
NiRA has been pushing for the government to accelerate the adoption of the second-level domain (. gov. ng, .edu.ng, .mil.ng) under the country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD.ng).
Also speaking at the event, the NiRA boss said that a total of twenty-two new registrars were accredited last year, “showing the collective efforts of NiRA Accredited Registrars and their Resellers, which we duly acknowledge and appreciate.
“Our commitment to nurturing a robust partnership with our accredited registrars remains unwavering. The establishment of the Registrar’s Relationship Manager position exemplified this dedication, as it provides a specialized resource to address registrars’ needs and to cultivate stronger bonds among stakeholders.
“Together, we are poised to further elevate the .ng domain and advance our collective objective”, the NiRA President said.
Earlier in her goodwill message, Chairperson, Board of Trustees of NiRA, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote commended the Board for the tremendous input and success achieved: “Having gone through the documents associated with this meeting, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and appreciation for each one of you. Your dedication, commitment, and contributions to our organization have been instrumental in our continued success and growth.
“It is a time for us to come together as a community, to share ideas, insights, and experiences, and to reaffirm our shared vision and mission.”
In her conclusion, Odusote opined: “As Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, I am inspired by the passion and enthusiasm that each of you brings to this body. Your unwavering support and commitment to our cause have been the driving force behind our accomplishments, and I am confident that together, we will overcome any obstacles that may lie ahead.”