Dear Esteemed Members and Stakeholders,
It is with deep appreciation that I extend my sincere gratitude to every attendee—both members of the public and our NiRA members—who participated in the 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of our Association.
Your presence, engagement, and insights were pivotal to the success of the AGM. Together, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s internet landscape. At this critical juncture in our digital evolution, collective efforts such as these ensure that NiRA remains at the forefront of progress.
In my address during the AGM, I spoke on the importance of readiness in a digital era that is evolving at remarkable speed. We explored our growth trajectory, highlighted key transformations in the digital space, and reiterated the need to stay proactive and innovative in our strategies. The .ng domain continues to hold a place of pride in Africa, currently ranked second after South Africa’s .za—an achievement worth celebrating, yet also a clear reminder that there is still work to be done to deepen adoption and impact.
This year also marked an election cycle for the Executive Board of Directors, and we welcomed new members—Ahmad Mukoshy, Abibat Olatunji, and Omotola Olaseni—who have joined us to chart the next phase of NiRA’s journey. Also within the board, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata and Destiny Amana assumed new positions. These new elections strengthen our efforts and position us for more impactful strides ahead.
I would also like to commend the NiRA Secretariat for their unwavering commitment and excellence in executing the AGM. Your diligence and professionalism are invaluable to the success of our operations and initiatives.
As May draws to a close, I reflect on what has been a month of milestones. The success of the AGM and the developments within NiRA signal a strong trajectory for the rest of the year.
In line with our mission to improve systems and empower partners within the .ng ecosystem, we are pleased to announce the launch of the NiRA Registrar Accreditation Platform—a fully online, streamlined system designed to simplify and enhance the onboarding and management of .ng registrars. This platform brings increased transparency, faster processing, and a seamless accreditation experience for new and existing partners, laying a solid foundation for greater collaboration and digital expansion.
Additionally, NiRA will commence the implementation of the WHOIS Privacy Redaction Service on June 16, 2025. This important development enhances the privacy, security, and trust within the .ng registry. Under this new measure, personal data such as names, phone numbers, and email addresses of registrants will be redacted from public view in the WHOIS database, replaced with “Data Redacted.” This aligns with global best practices in data protection and reinforces NiRA’s commitment to safeguarding our users while maintaining critical functionality and compliance mechanisms for legitimate third-party access.
We were also proud to participate in key events across the African continent this month, including the African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) and the West African Internet Governance Forum (WAIGF). These platforms provided exciting opportunities to connect with like-minded stakeholders who are equally passionate about shaping and advancing Africa’s internet ecosystem. It was a moment of rich dialogue, collaboration, and shared commitment to a more inclusive digital future.
Let us remain committed to building a digital future that serves Nigeria and uplifts every stakeholder in our internet ecosystem.
Thank you once again for your continued trust and partnership.
Warm regards,
Adesola Akinsanya
President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA)