The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the official registry for .ng domains, successfully held its first Registrars Forum for 2025 on Monday, May 12th, bringing together its Accredited Registrars and key stakeholders for a virtual session focused on collaboration, innovation, and policy development in Nigeria’s domain name industry.
Held twice annually, the Registrars Forum is a flagship initiative of NiRA designed to engage and empower its Accredited Registrars. The first session is always conducted virtually to ensure broad participation, while a second, in-person or hybrid session follows later in the year. With over 140 accredited registrars globally, this forum creates a vital platform for sharing ideas, reviewing industry progress, and addressing the evolving needs of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
This May edition underscored NiRA’s role not only as a registry but also as an industry catalyst—providing the tools, insights, and policy awareness Registrars need to thrive. The forum opened with a warm welcome and quickly delved into critical updates and discussions, including:
🔹 Performance of .ng Domains in Q1 2025
Participants reviewed domain registration trends from the first quarter of the year. The session offered insights into performance metrics, domain growth patterns, and user behavior—providing a foundation for strategy refinement and service improvement across the ecosystem.
🔹 Opportunities in Data Localization
As Nigeria’s digital infrastructure matures, data localization has become a key focus. The forum explored its potential impact on the .ng domain landscape and how Registrars can position themselves to benefit from evolving regulatory and market conditions supporting data sovereignty.
🔹 Understanding the 2025 Nigeria Data Protection Act (GAID)
One of the standout sessions was a deep dive into the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2025. The session unpacked the core directives and discussed what Accredited Registrars need to know to remain compliant, secure, and trustworthy. This session reinforced the importance of aligning domain management with national data protection standards.
Strengthening Collaboration, Driving Adoption
The virtual Registrars Forum concluded with renewed commitments to collaboration, education, and strategic growth. It also reaffirmed NiRA’s dedication to supporting its Registrars with timely information and guidance in navigating the ever-changing digital landscape.
As Nigeria’s internet presence continues to expand, forums like this play a critical role in shaping the future of local digital identity and increasing the adoption of .ng domains across sectors.
The next Registrars Forum will be held later in the year as a hybrid session, offering another opportunity for in-person engagement, networking, and in-depth discussions with our accredited registrars.