‘NiRA Academy, AFRINIC Partnership Crucial for IPv6 Deployment’

The signed memorandum of understanding between the Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NiRA) Academy and the African Network Information Center (AFRINIC) Ltd, has been described as important step towards the deployment of Internet Protocol Version Six (IPv6) in the country.

The duo signed the partnership recently in Nairobi, Kenya, to develop and certify skills in Internet Number Resources Management and IPv6 in Nigeria.

Alan Barrett, AFRINIC CEO, and Sikiru Shehu, dean NiRA Academy, signed the MoU during the ICANN African Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, in the presence of Sunday Folayan, Chair of the AFRINIC Board, and also the President of NiRA and Göran Marby, CEO ICANN.

AFRINIC is one of only twelve organisations in the world certified by the IPv6 Forum to directly certify engineers. As a valued partner in AFRINIC’s new certi::6 programme, NiRA Academy will administer certification exams locally in Nigeria enabling engineers to complete their certification within one week at an affordable price. Local training will be facilitated by NiRA Academy using AFRINIC's world-class IPv6 training course materials and certified trainers will prepare local engineers for certification under the certi::6 programme.

"AFRINIC has been leading IPv6 capacity building efforts throughout the continent for many years and is proud to partner with NiRA to further reinforce the message that the time to deploy IPv6 is now," said Mr. Barrett. "This partnership comes at a crucial moment in the evolution of the global Internet. Just a few weeks ago, AFRINIC announced that it is nearing Phase 1 of IPv4 Exhaustion. Our pool of IPv4 address space is depleting fast and network operators need to prepare for IPv6 deployment as soon as possible. Partnering with NiRA will ensure that AFRINIC's top-level IPv6 training materials are more accessible to Nigerian engineers, further reinforcing our commitment to capacity building efforts throughout our service region".

Speaking during a press conference in Lagos, Folayan, re-echoed the important of the MoU as creates accessibility to International IPv6 certification for Nigerian System and Network Engineers, and provides the opportunity for Nigeria to increase the number of internationally recognised and skilled IPv6 engineers, following the pattern established by AFRINIC.

“The trainings,” he said “would be conducted at the NiRA Academy, using AFRINIC coursewares and certified trainers for the certification programmes”.

NIRA is an Incorporated Trustees registered under the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a non for profit organisation is charged with the management of Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain Name (.ng ccTLD).

NiRA Academy was established, to breed Nigerians that will take full advantage of the jobs and business opportunities, wealth creation and financial rewards that the .ng domain name string has to offer.