The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) continues to deepen its commitment to a more inclusive, secure, and locally driven internet ecosystem, most recently demonstrated by its active participation in the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D), organized by ITREALMS Media under the DigitalSENSE Africa platform.
Representing NiRA at the event were Mrs. Busayo Balogun, Head of Corporate Services, and Jessica Alexander, both of whom attended on behalf of the association’s president. During the forum, Mrs. Balogun delivered a goodwill message that highlighted NiRA’s ongoing initiatives in internet governance, education, and supporting local content development.
A Breakdown of NiRA’s Participation
NiRA’s involvement in the DigitalSENSE Forum is a strategic expression of its commitment to shaping Nigeria’s digital future. The forum convened by Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, a serving Board of Trustees member of NiRA has evolved into a critical platform where stakeholders across the internet ecosystem gather to discuss issues affecting internet access, governance, digital rights, and emerging technologies in Nigeria. By attending, NiRA not only showed support for the platform but also reaffirmed its role in driving conversations that influence national internet policy, governance models, and digital identity awareness.
Promoting the .ng Brand and Digital Identity
Through its goodwill message and presence at the event, NiRA used the opportunity to amplify the value of the .ng domain, not just as a digital asset, but as a tool for national pride, trust, and economic growth.
The Association continues to advocate for local digital identity and presence, encouraging Nigerian businesses, institutions, and individuals to adopt the .ng domain. Events like NDSF serve as a practical platform to sensitize participants especially younger generations about the relevance of owning and building on a local internet namespace.
Building Awareness Through Grassroots Engagement
One of the highlights of this year’s NDSF was the active participation of students and teachers from several secondary schools. NiRA recognized this as a prime opportunity to begin early conversations with digital natives through its .ng Academy, which is set to launch outreach programmes targeted specifically at schools.
These efforts align perfectly with NiRA’s mission to promote digital responsibility, internet safety, and localized content creation from an early age. Encouraging students to go beyond digital consumption to embrace innovation, critical thinking, and ownership echoes the same values enshrined in the Global Digital Compact, the theme of this year’s forum.
Strengthening Multistakeholder Collaboration
NiRA’s participation also underscores its belief in multistakeholder engagement as essential to building Nigeria’s digital future. By joining industry experts, media, government agencies, civil society, and youth leaders at the forum, NiRA continues to help bridge policy and practice ensuring that no group is left out of internet growth and governance conversations.
Contributions from thought leaders such as Jimson Olufuye, Muhammed Rudman; CEO IXPN and former President NiRA, and Gbenga Sesan helped shape the discourse on digital inclusion, infrastructure, and youth empowerment values that NiRA continues to support through its own programs and initiatives.
The Power of Storytelling in Digital Advocacy
An additional highlight of the event was the launch of The Village Priest, a book by the forum’s convener, Mr. Remmy Nweke, and also a current BoT member. The book uses storytelling to unpack complex digital governance themes, making them accessible to younger and non-technical audiences. This aligns with NiRA’s own efforts to simplify internet literacy and foster digital confidence at all levels of society
NiRA’s presence at forums like NDSF reflects more than just participation—it reflects **leadership, partnership, and commitment** to Nigeria’s evolving digital journey. As the Association continues to champion local content, policy engagement, and domain name adoption, it also remains dedicated to equipping the next generation with tools to thrive in a digitally inclusive future.
The work does not stop at this event. It builds momentum. And NiRA will remain at the forefront, amplifying Nigerian voices, protecting digital rights, and ensuring that the internet in Nigeria is safe, inclusive, and truly reflective of our national identity.