Dr Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology has commended the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) and the Registrars for their resolves to exploit the uniqueness of the .ng domain name in projecting the international relevance of Nigeria’s Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).

Johnson made the remark while commissioning NiRA office complex at 8 Funsho Willaims Avenue, Iponri, Suru-Lere, Lagos, on Friday.

The Minister also encouraged the accredited Registrars to double their efforts to serving the internet community locally and register .ng domain name on behalf of the Registrants worldwide and become big players like the “GoDaddy” of USA.

She identified .ng domain name as the country’s unique identity in the cyberspace.

“It is ours and our internet economy grows in leaps and bounds, we must proudly secure our identity in cyberspace. I therefore assure Nigerians that we are in for eccit.i.ng times”.

She recalled that the NiRA House commissioned on Friday, was purchased from the proceeds of past sales of premium domain names, validating the fact that the business and wealth creation opportunities in the domain name registration industry are significant.

The property serves, mot only as the operational headquarters of NiRA, but also provides a resource centre for training and certification in Domain Name System (DNS), an e-library for research in DNS, fully furnished offices for short term hiring, and a canteen.

“I am fully assured that the Executive Board of Directors will ensure sustainable good use of the premises,” Johnson said, while acknowledging the contributions of the Ministry, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and other stakeholders in keeping NiRA’s dreams alive.

On her part, Mrs. Mary Nma Uduma, president of NiRA said, “For us at NIRA it’s a dream come true, looking back from our humble beginning, when we started from nothing, our sustainance then was out of the goodwill of our stakeholders, people of like interests/mind in the DNS industry as well as some members of the Association.

“NiRA’s office was a single room in a residential apartment in SuruLere, Lagos before NITDA gave us an office space at Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“The success of NIRA cannot be complete, without appreciating our supervising Government Agencies; Ministry of Communication Technology (COMTECH), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), our stakeholders such Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) and other ICT stakeholders.

“I would also seize this moment to appreciate and thank our Board of Trustees, my colleagues on the Executive Board of Directors, staff of NiRA, our Accredited Registrars, Registrants, members of the Association and the public for their immense contributions.

“My joy is that history will not forget us because victory is ours and all achievements of NiRA are for the development of our nation Nigeria”.

NiRA was founded on March 23, 2005 as a stakeholder-led organisation, charged with the management of the Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain Name (ccTLD), dot ng.

The transfer of the appropriate management of this important National Resource was coordinated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on behalf of the Federal government of Nigeria. Stakeholders within Nigeria’s Internet community participated in its formation. It was registered as an Incorporated Trustee on February 9, 2007.

NIRA’s formation brought to an end the long years of controversy in the country, over the management of this critical national resource, following the intervention of the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

The re-delegation of the .ng ccTLD came nearly 12 years after the country code was hosted first in Italy, and later by Mr Randy Bush, an American.

While Mr Bush was the technical contact for the ccTLD, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote served as the administrative contact.

NIRA’s Constitution was adopted by Stakeholders, at a meeting held on March 28, 2006. A Board of Trustees (BoT) was elected among the stakeholders with Dr. Isaac A. Odeyemi as the pioneer Chairman, shortly after the adoption of the Constitution.

By May 1, 2007, the first Executive Board of NIRA was elected with Engr. Ndukwe Kalu of blessed memory leading a 10-man Board.

Dr Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology, Mary Nma Uduma, president of NiRA and, executive board members of NiRA other invited guests during the commissioning of NiRA House on Friday.