.ng Domain Offers Identity, Security on Cyber space–Uduma

Mary Uduma is the president, executive board, Nigeria internet Registration Association (NiRA). She assumed the role in September 2010, after serving as vice-president since 2009.
Uduma has also served as member of NiRA’s Interim Board of Trustee and was a director of Consumer Affairs Bureau with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) where worked for over 16 years.
The NiRA President is a Chartered Accountant and had worked at Deloitte and Touché, before joining NiRA.
Her portfolio also includes work at a public accounting firm and a bank. She is a member of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). She spoke to peter ugwu on a wide range of issues.

NiRA’s Achievements
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) started in 2009 and we had only 2,000 domain names then.
Over the years, we have been progressing. We have raised, not just funds, but the uptake of domain names have increased from 2,000 to about 60,000. That is a lot of achievement owing to the rate of adoption, understanding of the importance and governments’ support or interest in the scheme.
We just had our annual general meeting where we reported that our domain names grew more than 50%; from 10,000 to 16,000 within the year under review.
Although, we have not reached the peak, at the same time, it is an achievement. That is why we coming up with some interventions that will encourage Nigerians-students, small scale businesses, artisans, etc., to register on n.g. 

Nigerians and .ng Adoption
The reason it appears Nigerians are skeptical about .ng domain name adoption, migration or switchover is based on the obvious belief that made in Nigeria products are not genuine.
But, over the years, we have proven to them that have signed on to the domain name that it is secured as any foreign domain name they might want to align themselves to.

Nigerians and Foreign Domain Names
On our part, we have gone to the extent of easing the registration periods; such that within 24 hours you can get done with your registration.
It is just like .com, but people are still looking as: What is that? Am I sure it works? Is it not 419 (fraudulent)? However, we are making breakthroughs, especially with the Federal and State Governments (through the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)) on our side by saying they must be on .gov.ng, every other business person would like to follow-suit.
We have at various occasions highlighted the important of .ng; a Nigeria’s Code Top Level domain name, an Internet top-level domain generally used or reserved for Nigeria only.
General, the awareness level is still low; that is why we are eager to educate, inform and mobilize the people. It was as a result of our advocacy that even the Government thought of embracing .gov.ng. We are committed to work with the registrars; they are our partners and channels to achieve this.

Incentives to Drive Public Interests
The intervention we are bringing to the fore is such that those who have domain names, but have not been able to develop a website, we want to encourage them on that.
They registered with the Registrars, but presently offline, so we want to make sure they are online. With a token (amount of money) they will join the league of website owners and users.

Registrars Complaints
Although, the registrars have sought for reduction in the amount they remit to NiRA, but we are relent enough. We are not taking much from them; we have even gone ahead to remove any CAP on it.
We told them, from whatever u sell just give us a little amount. It is no longer percentage based.  We just need little amount of money to run the secretariat; pay our bills, etc. 

MDAs Yet to Subscribe to Nigeria’s Domain Name
Yes, there are cases of ministries, departments and agencies of the government who are yet to give-in to .ng domain name, but that is going to change.
With a steering committee on switch to .gov.ng, there are programmes lined out to ensure, for instance, every civil servant adopts at the work place.
The truth of the matter is that domain name switch over is work in progress and we are making progress.

August Deadline for .ng Internet Domain Switch Over
Yes, in a bid to protect state apparatuses from deliberate and unintended abuse, NiRA came up with the deadline for State Governments, Ministries and parastatals as well as local governments in the country have till August this year to host their websites on the country’s name .ng top level domain.
Apart from offering a cover to the assignees, the country will, through the process, set up and operate a unified ICT infrastructure platform that permeates through all tiers of government and its agencies.
It is not news that the creation of the .ng domain-based websites and email addresses followed discovery that some civil servants have inadvertently transmitted sensitive government data and information through their own free email addresses which pose national security challenges.
To meet the deadline, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is collaborating with NIRA to ensure a smooth migration for the states and local governments.
The decision was reached by the council involved to rally all stakeholders for wholistic implementation.

ICT Professionals Missing at National Conference
I wouldn’t know why ICT professional bodies were not invited. However, I know that there are ICT professionals who are part of the conference, representing other groups. I can point out one or two people who are ICT professionals who are there.
Because it is a constitutional matter NBA will be given the prominence. There are many Institutes in the country; I wouldn’t know if there were given prominence.

Institutions and Domain Name Registration
There is a zone dedicated to educational institutions, the .edu.ng. It’s not only the educational institutions that are given priority.
The military, businesses, in fact, every sector has its designation.

Why Businesses, Individuals Should Switch To .ng Domain
First, as an organization in Nigeria, n.g is your identity on the cyberspace. It is your ICT currency. If you must trade on the cyberspace in Nigeria, trade with the currency.

Security, Skeptics And The Domain Name
There is no string of internet domain that is more secured than .ng. We have said this time without number. In fact, .ng registrars with the approval of NIRA are planning promos aimed at creating awareness on .ng.
Just few days ago, the American government warned the citizens and businesses to stop using Explorer due to security implications.
For instance, if someone takes your name under .com, the process of getting it back is long, but with us the process is seamless and fast. We are also signing NiRA on Domain Name System Security Extension (DNSSEC) which is the highest level The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has provided. Our practices are in line with the international best standards and the infrastructures also.

Centenary Celebration and Free Domain Name Registrations
We now have the (centenary) registrars. They are the ones to give the domain names out, not directly by NiRA.
When they have done so and from their reports we can ascertain. We just finished the first phase consultations with them.
And we are going to run it for hundred days. And we are going to begin by the next quarter.