News
Nira Propagates .ng at 2nd AGM
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (Nira) last week held its second Annual General Meeting at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos. Top on the agenda of the meeting was to receive the Annual Report and financial statement for the year ended May 31, 2008 alongside the Auditors’ Report. It was also part of the Ordinary Business of the meeting to receive a Business Plan and Budget for the current financial year of the association beginning June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009 while on the Special Business was a review of the constitution of the association.
Addressing the gathering, Engr. Ndukwe Kalu, president of the association identified the strength and weaknesses of the association as itemized in the Nira business plan. He pointed out that organizational structure and manpower, network infrastructure, registrar base and the fact that .ng is a virgin domain are the strength of the association whereas bad public image which Nira has with registrants and issue of finance are some of the challenges faced by it .To mitigate these problems, Kalu said the body would go on registrar appeal using goodwill and effective customer service to work on the registrars as well as embark on public enlightenment campaign to publicize Nira as efficient , fast and reliable organization. In addition, the body will give incentive to old registrants in consultation with the registrars and embark on mass orientation after the technical infrastructure has been put in place.
In the area of finance, Kalu said their financial situation is a major weakness that could deter the progress of the association and tom counter this; the body has planned to offer endorsement opportunity to various firms which in return will provide cash or services to the association. The body according to Kalu would offer premium domain which will attract a special price for individuals, bodies or agencies that want to have a special domain as a way of generating fund for the association. He also noted that in the regular registration that the association will make sure that the domain name is well populated even as he intimated that they will make defined projects available for corporate sponsorship taking into consideration the interest of the association.
Further, Kalu considered rising internet penetration in the country, person/brand protection as companies are registering multiple domains for corporate names and product brands to ensure protection and rising content need in the country as existing opportunities to fully populate the various SLDs for .ng
On the action plan, Kalu identified a three-point agenda for the association. He said that the body will strive to massively propagate .ng domain by working closely with their registrars. So far, the board has approved the selection of thirty five provisional registrars from within and outside Nigeria.
Nira also discovered security as a major issue and has adopted the anycast implementation with multiple providers which Kalu said will offer protection to any form of attack on the cyber space. Finally, he said that fine quality content will be provided by the association to cut across the interest the majority of the people.
The Federal Government has inaugurated the new Board of Directors of Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB). The board’s mandate is to lead Nigeria’s digital transformation in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and services.
It will support Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in a fast-changing landscape.
George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, led the inauguration. He emphasised the government’s commitment to making GBB more agile, responsive, and impactful. The aim is to drive national digital public infrastructure and service delivery. This was according to a statement by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations.
The board has George Akume as Chairman. Its members include Rabi’a Adamu Waziri from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Abubakar Abdulqadir Maje from the Joint Stock Association (JSA), Kemi Owonubi from the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), and Margareth Ebute from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
Other members are Ibrahim Adeyanju, Olusegun, Olumbe Akinkugbe, Sanni Ibrahim Mohammed, and Adama Pindar from Galaxy Backbone Limited.
In his acceptance speech, Prof. Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Limited, assured that the board will focus on sustainability. He said it plans to realign its vision and build a strong foundation for achieving strategic goals.
He also noted that within one year, the agency developed its Integrated Digital Transformation Strategy (IDTS). This strategy will run from 2025 to 2028.
Smart Treasure (ST Team) has honored the Deji of Akure, His Royal Highness Ọbá Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, CFR, with a plaque of recognition for his dedication to the welfare of his subjects.
The presentation was made at the monarch’s palace in Akure by a delegation led by Instructor Luke Mbadugha from the Lagos Operations Center.
The visit was part of ongoing discussions on a partnership aimed at boosting agriculture in Akure, Ondo State.
The initiative, spearheaded by the ST Team, seeks to ensure the availability of farmland for agricultural purposes.
Under the arrangement, the ST Team will provide seedlings and manpower, while a significant portion of the proceeds will be distributed to the indigenes at no cost.
The remaining proceeds will support the administrative operations of the ST Team.
In his response, Ọbá Aladetoyinbo announced the allocation of a parcel of land at Ofosu, along the Ondo-Benin Road, for the project.
He described the initiative as a commendable effort to enhance food security for both the local community and the nation.
The monarch also called for a follow-up meeting to facilitate the assessment of the land for the project’s commencement.
Meanwhile, farming activities are set to resume at Aladodo Isikan in Akure South Local Government Area, another site designated for the agricultural project.
The four-acre land will be used to cultivate crops such as yam, cassava, plantain, and maize. A test run of maize planting began on April 9, 2025, with expectations of harvesting in three months.
Kabiesi Akinwunmi Adekanmbi Obey, the monarch of Olulero Okelero, Onitan Isikan, lauded the ST Team for their commitment to ensuring food availability.
He emphasized the importance of agriculture, stating, “Whoever brings food brings life.”
The ST Team, an investment platform dedicated to reducing poverty in Africa by 30% by 2027, has been actively involved in various Corporate Social Responsibility programs, including this agricultural initiative.
The project underscores their mission to create financial freedom and improve the quality of life for individuals across the continent.
Zinox Technologies Limited, a leading ICT solutions provider in West Africa, has engaged with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) in Abuja, marking a significant step towards advancing innovation and sustainable energy solutions within Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape.
Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Zinox Chairman (left) and Arc. Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary, TETFUND (right) after the meeting
Under the theme “Advancing Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” the meeting aimed to establish a collaborative framework for technological transformation.
The Zinox delegation was led by Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, its chairman, and included key members of the company’s executive management team.
On the TETFUND side, Arc. Sonny Echono, executive secretary, was joined by members of his top management team for the high-level discussions.
The highlight of the visit was the establishment of a strategic partnership between Zinox Technologies and TETFUND to provide renewable energy solutions to universities and polytechnics across Nigeria.
Additionally, Mrs. Kelechi Eze-Okonta, managing director, delivered a comprehensive, world-class presentation on the company’s diverse verticals and advanced ICT services, underscoring the need for intentional policy measures to support indigenous technologies for sustainable economic growth.
The TETFUND team expressed their appreciation for Zinox’s contributions to technology awareness, implementation, and adoption in Africa.
Arc. Sonny Echono, executive secretary of TETFUND, conveyed his deep appreciation for the visit by the Zinox team and commended Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh for his unwavering and impactful contributions to Nigeria’s digital transformation, stating that efforts are underway to establish a framework for effective energy solutions in tertiary institutions.
Highlighting Zinox Technologies’ expertise and proven track record, Arc. Echono expressed optimism about partnering with the company to develop scalable and efficient power solutions for academic institutions.
While both organizations remain committed to implementing innovative initiatives that enhance institutional capacity across the nation’s higher education sector, the visit marks a significant milestone in establishing a strategic partnership to equip Nigeria’s tertiary institutions with the essential technological infrastructure for a sustainable, digitally-driven future.
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