NiRA Rallies Stakeholders On .ng Adoption, Cybersecurity, Digital Identity

The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has announced plans to host the third edition of its flagship digital economy forum, Tech Convergence 3.0, as stakeholders intensify calls for stronger digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, and the development of local internet infrastructure in Nigeria.

The one-day forum scheduled for June 2, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, is expected to bring together senior government officials, technology innovators, cybersecurity experts, investors, legal practitioners, telecom operators and civil society groups to deliberate on Nigeria’s digital future and economic independence.

The event, convened under the theme, “Strengthening Nigeria’s Digital Independence: The Role of Policy, Digital Identity & .ng for Economic Growth,” will focus on issues surrounding data sovereignty, digital identity infrastructure, internet governance and the adoption of Nigeria’s country code top-level domain,.ng.

Similarly, NiRA stated that the event comes at a critical period for Nigeria’s digital economy as concerns continue to grow over the heavy dependence on foreign digital infrastructure across Africa.

According to the association, more than 90 per cent of internet traffic generated within Africa is still routed through servers outside the continent, raising concerns about economic value loss, national security, and data protection.

In his remarks, president of NiRA, Adesola Akinsanya, described the forthcoming event as the most significant edition of the forum since its inception, stressing that Nigeria stands at a decisive moment in its digital transformation journey.

“Tech Convergence 3.0 is the most consequential edition of this forum to date. Nigeria is at an inflection point in its digital journey, and the decisions we make now, on policy, infrastructure, identity, and internet security, will define our digital economy for the next generation,” Akinsanya said.

He added that NiRA remains committed to ensuring that discussions from the conference translate into measurable national outcomes that strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy and internet resilience.

The conference programme will feature panel discussions and technical presentations focused on digital policy, internet infrastructure, DNS security and localisation of Nigeria’s digital assets.

One of the sessions titled, “From Policy to Prosperity: Unlocking Nigeria’s Digital Economy Through Identity, Infrastructure, and .ng,” will examine the policy and regulatory frameworks needed to strengthen the nation’s digital economy.

Another presentation, “Are We Building Nigeria’s Internet or Renting It?” will analyse Nigeria’s dependence on foreign-owned digital infrastructure and the economic implications of offshore data hosting.

The forum will also feature discussions on DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) and strategies to protect government institutions, banks, and telecom operators from DNS-related cyber threats.

On his part, chairman of the Tech Convergence Committee and executive director of NiRA, Seun Kehinde, said this year’s edition was intentionally structured to move beyond conversations to actionable outcomes and policy recommendations.

“We are not here to repeat the same conversations. Every session has been built around a specific, actionable outcome, whether that is a policy recommendation, a DNSSEC deployment roadmap, or a new partnership agreement,” Kehinde stated.

Meanwhile, speakers for the event include executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, managing director of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Prof Ibrahim Adeyanju, chief executive officer of Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Muhammed Rudman, vice president of Cybersecurity at the Canada Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), Jon Ferguson, and several other experts from government, industry and international internet governance organisations.

Commenting, chief operating officer of NiRA, Seyi Onasanya, said the calibre of speakers expected at the event reflects the growing importance of digital governance, cybersecurity and internet trust infrastructure within Nigeria’s economy.

“The calibre of speakers confirmed for Tech Convergence 3.0 speaks to the significance of this moment for Nigeria’s digital economy. From cybersecurity and DNS security experts to senior policymakers and legal authorities on digital governance, we have assembled a faculty that can deliver the depth and specificity this conversation demands,” she said.

NiRA disclosed that the conference will conclude with the adoption of a formal communiqué containing policy recommendations and institutional commitments, which are expected to be submitted to relevant ministries, regulators, and stakeholders to support national digital development efforts.

The association noted that Tech Convergence has continued to grow since its launch, attracting over 1,500 participants, more than 50 speakers and several strategic partners across previous editions. It added that the event will also feature a technology exhibition showcasing Nigerian startups, digital infrastructure providers and innovative technology firms driving growth within the country’s digital economy.