As the 2019 .ng awards approaches, there is enthusiasm to know the eventual winners of the various awards. It is important to remember that the .ng awards recognize organizations that successfully conduct their businesses using the .ng domain names; the Nigerian Online Identity.
The nominees for the awards are companies and individuals using the .ng domain names, projecting the Nigerian culture and norms, and helping to make the Internet more accessible and secure. The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) is rewarding these entities for their various achievements. Nominations and voting for the eventual winners in the various categories were done by the general public, ratified by a Jury and overseen by NiRA’s external auditors. As we all look forward to the awards on 5th July, 2019, let me again re-assure all stakeholders that these awards are based purely on merit and the sheer hard-work of the nominees and eventual winners. I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate all the nominees and the eventual winners of this notable award.
NiRA was ably represented at both the recently concluded Africa Internet Summit in Uganda and the more recent ICANN 65 Conference in Morocco. Members of Staff of the Secretariat attended and actively participated at the AIS Summit and the AfTLD Conference. Exposure to best practices and participation at such events ensure continuous improvement of services rendered by the NiRA Secretariat. At the ICANN conference, the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Edith Udeagu made a presentation on “Legal Considerations: Domain Name Auction using the Twitter Platform”, which was well received and served to further cement NiRA’s position as a ccTLD to be reckoned with. Some of NiRA’s Executive Board Members and the NiRA Chief Operating Officer were also in attendance at the conference.
NiRA will, next week, in partnership with other stakeholders, host the first Nigeria School on Internet Governance as well as the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum. Both events will hold in Lagos, Nigeria from 8th to 11th July, 2019 and have attracted many key players in Internet Governance.
NiRA continues to strive hard to promote and increase the adoption of the .ng brand, our Nigerian Online Identity.
Muhammed Rudman
President, NIRA Executive Board