.ng Community Celebrates NiRA@10

Stakeholders in the promotion of .ng domain name (brand), gathered on Lagos Island at the weekend to mark NIRA's tenth year anniversary (NiRA10).

NiRA acknowledged the sacrifices of the founding fathers and present players in the promotion of domain name industry in the country.

Dr. Vincent Olatunji, acting director general of NITDA, said that it was enough to roll out drums to celebrate, as the Nigerian brand, at a point, was difficult to sell.

According to the acting DG who was represented by Mr. Adeyinka, Olajube, director, Lagos and South West Zonal Office, NITDA, extolled NIRA for remembering the sacrifices of the professional who sacrificed their talent, time and other resources to establish Nigeria's name in the league of Internet community.

He said that the real achievers in lifting .ng domain name are the local IT practitioners who must make deliberate efforts to encourage more businesses to go online.

"At a time, NiRA ran a campaign to take one million business  (SMEs) online. Such gestures are economic enablers because it redefines business approach and registers the country's name in the comity of Internet community.

"NiRA is even positioned now to take the industry further as it has secured a befitting headoffice. We at NITDA will continue any activity that will promote local content; NiRA  is doing very well in this regard," the NITDA boss said.

Earlier, in an address, Reverend Sunday Folayan, president of NiRA, said that the celebration was to honour the best in the .ng Community through their outreach that cuts across the globe.

Speaking, specifically, on .ng Web award 2016, he said, "The Key to these nominations are establishments doing business with a .ng domain name either at the second or third level; and directly or indirectly promoting the .ng brand."

He said that using the .ng brand enhances Nigeria's local content, visibility of Nigerian businesses, products and services online.

"We get to project our culture, heritage and promote our economy. This will further enlighten our people to the importance of their .ng online identity," he said.

Meanwhile, some of the awardees are google.com.ng (Technology Company of the Year); Jumia.com.ng (Most innovative Web company/organisation); fidelitybank.ng (Best Banking Website/Portal; galaxybackbone.com.ng (Best Hosting Company); guardian.ng (.ng media award); jamb.org.ng (Public Sector Star Website Award), among others.

Folayan, while craving for more companies to migrate to .ng domain name, said, "We must create jobs, distribute wealth and grow our economy. Nigerian youths must take advantage of the abundant opportunities to be employers of Labour and not white collar job seekers.