E-Business
NiRA @10: Domain Name & the Growth of Nigeria’s Digital Economy
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association, (NiRA) in its 10th year anniversary has continued to emphasize on leveraging .ng domain name as part of indices to galvanise the nation’s digital economy.
Historically, NiRA was established on 28th March 2006 when stakeholders within the Nigerian Internet Industry got together to adopt its constitution, under the stewardship of an Interim Board of Trustees (iBoT).
The iBoT thereafter conducted an election that day, and the Pioneer Board of Trustees (BoT) was elected, with Dr. Isaac Odeyemi as the Chairman of the BoT. The current Chair of the BoT is Deacon Chima Onyekwere, OON.
The BoT thereafter conducted elections for the Pioneer Executive Board (EBoD), with the late Engr Ndukwe Kalu being elected as the Pioneer President of NiRA.
The late Kalu was succeeded by Mrs Mary Uduma, the immediate Past President who completed her term of office in 2015.
The current President of NIRA is Reverend Sunday Folayan.
Meanwhile, the transfer of the appropriate management of the .ng National Resource was coordinated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on behalf of the Federal government of Nigeria.
From inception, NiRA has been notable for broadening the scoop of digital economy which many presumed to imply the businesses conducted on the Internet.
In the 75th edition of the Association’s e-newsletter, Folayan identified that the digital economy is broader than this and represents the pervasive use of IT; hardware, software, applications and telecommunications, in all aspects of the economy, including internal operations of organizations: business, government and non-profit.
The Association rated domain name as one of the tools that have enhanced the growth of the digital economy.
“It has enhanced easy communication between the devices and the users. At the global scene, technology has become the major driving force for economic growth and the domain name system is one of the tools that have facilitated that growth.
“The digital economy, based on digital computing technologies, is developing in Nigeria. It is the single most important driver of innovation, competitiveness and growth, and it holds huge potential for Nigerian entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The full implementation of the National BroadBand Plan is projected to enhance the Nigerian digital economy. We envisage very soon that more Nigerian enterprises would take full advantage of the new digital opportunities”.
Main Components Of Digital Economy Growth
Speaking further on the concept, he acknowledged that “Government policy and regulation are amongst the various components of digital economy. Other components include the Internet, and infrastructure such as electricity, the telecommunication industry, digital service providers, e-business and e-commerce industry, information and knowledge management systems, intellectual property rights, human capital and knowledge workers, research and development, and emerging technologies”.
“Based on the list above,” the NiRA said, “Nigeria and other African countries have to improve on these identified economic growth drivers at the global scene. We need to develop our local contents and drive the contents with our local resources. We can achieve this with increased investment in the domain name industry. We need to appreciate and utilize our .ng brand to reduce capital flight, encourage application designers and developers, website designers and developers and local content management”.
Also, Mrs. Edith Udeagu, chief operating office of NiRA recalled that in recent years, the concept of a digital economy has branched outside the commerce aspect of buying and selling electronic products online.
“Today, the idea also includes the use of virtual processes as part of the on-going operation of companies, the internal workings of governments, and the fast and efficient execution of transactions between businesses. As technology continues to advance, the digital economy is likely to continue expanding as a greater range of goods and services are offered online (electronically), allowing consumers to fulfil their needs and wants at an accelerated rate.
“Given its expected broad impact, traditional firms are actively assessing how to respond to the changes brought about by the digital economy. For corporations, the timing of their response is of the essence. Banks are trying to innovate and use digital tools to improve their traditional business. Governments are investing in infrastructure and e-government,” the COO explained.
NiRA further warned that businesses that fail to get digitally connected might become excluded from the global market.
“We can state that in Nigeria, a .ng domain name is veritable to start to commence an online business. NiRA the managers of the .ng country code Top Level Domain for Nigeria, through its accredited registrars offer exciting names. You can register your preferred .ng domain name. For more information on NiRA and its activities, please visit our website www.nira.org.ng,” the Association urged Nigerians.
Africa’s leading technology distributor Powerhouse, TD Africa, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing cybersecurity awareness and digital resilience by sponsoring the 3rd Annual Secure 360 Summit Nigeria 2026, hosted by global cybersecurity leader Check Point Software Technologies, as Gold Sponsor.
Chioma Chimere, Coordinating Managing Director, TD Africa
This year’s summit was held in Abuja and Lagos, bringing together key stakeholders from across Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.
Now in its third edition, the Secure 360 Summit has evolved into one of Nigeria’s premier cybersecurity forums, bringing together Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), Chief Information Officers (CIOs), IT Directors, and senior technology leaders from the financial services, telecommunications, enterprise, energy, and public sectors to address today’s rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape.
Speaking on the significance of the summit, Kingsley Oseghale, Country Manager, Check Point Nigeria, emphasized the need for stronger collaboration in tackling emerging cyber risks. “Cybersecurity has become a business priority rather than just an IT concern.
“Through the Secure 360 Summit, we continue to provide a platform for industry leaders to exchange insights, strengthen partnerships, and explore innovative approaches to securing today’s digital economy.
“We are pleased to have TD Africa as a valued partner in driving cybersecurity awareness across Nigeria.”
In her remarks, Chioma Chimere, Coordinating Managing Director, TD Africa, applauded Check Point for creating a platform that addresses one of the most critical challenges facing businesses and individuals. “Cybersecurity is everyone’s business. We owe it to ourselves, our organisations, and our communities to remain security-conscious in an increasingly connected world.
“At TD Africa, innovation drives everything we do, and innovation can only thrive in a secure environment.
“This is why we are proud to support initiatives like the Secure 360 Summit that promote knowledge sharing and strengthen our collective cyber resilience.”
The summit featured expert-led sessions on emerging cyber threats, artificial intelligence, cloud security, ransomware, and strategies for building resilient digital infrastructures, equipping participants with practical insights to navigate today’s cybersecurity landscape.
Through its continued partnership with global technology leaders like Check Point, TD Africa remains committed to empowering businesses across Africa with world-class cybersecurity solutions, fostering industry collaboration, and driving the continent’s secure digital transformation.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure that every Nigerian is enrolled in the national identity database before the end of 2026, according to Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general and chief executive officer of the agency.
Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general and chief executive officer, NIMC
Coker-Odusote, who appeared on Channels Television, said the directive forms part of the federal government’s efforts to establish a comprehensive national identity system capable of supporting effective governance, planning, and service delivery.
“The President has given us till the end of this year to make sure that we capture every single Nigerian,” she said.
According to her, NIMC is working with partners under the World Bank-supported Identification for Development (ID4D) project to accelerate nationwide enrolment.
“What we have done is we have partnered through the World Bank ID4D project with front-end partners. They are part of the digital identity ecosystem. These are private citizens that we’ve enabled and given jobs to enrol citizens on our behalf,” she explained.
She stressed that the National Identification Number (NIN) remains a unique identifier, ensuring that every individual is registered only once.
“That’s why it’s called a unique identifier, so that you’re only enrolled once,” the NIMC DG added.
Coker-Odusote said Nigeria’s actual population remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 200 million to 250 million, making a comprehensive identity database essential for national planning.
“It is estimated that we’re 200 million. When we’re done enrolling, we will then know the actual numbers that we have. Some estimates say 230 million, while a few people say 250 million.
“Your identity is basically the foundation for effective governance and service delivery. How can you plan if you don’t know the total number of persons that you have? We have been mandated by Mr President to go down to the community levels to enrol every single Nigerian”, she said.
Responding to concerns about whether an individual could obtain multiple identities by registering in different locations or under different names, the NIMC boss said the commission’s biometric verification system prevents such occurrences.
She explained that while the previous system could accept duplicate enrolments before detecting them later, the current process automatically identifies and invalidates multiple registrations.
“The legacy system had no way of verifying at the front end whether you had already been captured. Once the record comes into the system, it flags it as a duplicate or that the person already exists in the database.
“You would only have one identity generated for you. The other record goes into a deduplication bucket where it is invalidated,” she said.
The NIMC DG added that biometric verification, including fingerprints and facial recognition, makes it virtually impossible for one person to maintain multiple identities.
“Absolutely. One of the things that this Act has done is to cement our role in capturing biometrics. Private and public sector organisations will no longer capture biometrics independently. They will validate identities through API integration with NIMC.
“The telcos are already doing that with us. If you need a SIM card, they capture your facial biometrics, which are matched against our database in real time to confirm that you are who you claim to be. We’re using biometric validation to tighten security around identity confirmation,” she said.
The remarks come weeks after Tinubu signed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 into law on June 26, repealing the 2007 legislation.
The new law reinforces the “One Person, One Identity” policy by making the NIN the country’s foundational identity credential for accessing government and essential private services, including banking, passport applications, tax administration, pensions, land transactions, and consumer credit.
It also introduces stiffer penalties for identity theft, multiple registrations and unauthorised access to personal identity data, while strengthening data privacy protections and granting NIMC wider powers to investigate identity-related offences.
Cybersecurity and privacy experts are raising concerns around the growing trend of sports fans using generative AI to create World Cup-related images, mock-ups, predictions and social media content.
Whilst offering new ways for supporters to engage with major sporting events, these tools also introduce risks that many users may underestimate. In light of this, Kaspersky has shared the key risks fans should keep in mind when using generative AI tools, so they can continue enjoying the championship with peace of mind.
When fan AI goes rogue. A growing number of AI tools are being used to create World Cup-themed visuals, avatars, memes and other fan content. While these services may seem creative and harmless, not all of them come from trusted providers.
Many are launched quickly to capitalise on interest around major events, increasing the likelihood that users will interact with platforms that offer limited transparency around data handling, lack adequate privacy and security measures, or might even be designed with malicious intent.
Personal data at stake. To create customised World Cup content, users are often asked to upload selfies, sign up with an email address, connect social media accounts or share other personal information. In doing so, they may reveal more information than necessary without fully understanding how that data will be stored, used, or potentially exposed.
“AI-driven fan content may seem harmless, but one of the key privacy risks is that users are often encouraged to share far more personal information than necessary. A simple request to generate a themed avatar can involve the collection of photos, contact details, account data and behavioural insights – information that may later be insufficiently protected.
“Because major global events often create an ideal environment for opportunistic actors, fans should take a closer look at how these tools manage personal data before engaging with them,” says Anna Larkina, web content analysis and privacy expert at Kaspersky.
When fan content becomes a scam. AI-generated World Cup content in some cases can also be used to support fraud. Cybercriminals may use convincing mock-ups, fake giveaways, or official-looking fan pages to attract attention and build trust. Once users engage, they may be redirected to phishing sites, fake stores, fraudulent offers, or betting-related scams. Generative AI makes these campaigns easier to produce, more persuasive and far easier to scale.
The myth of AI predictions. Another area that deserves caution is AI-powered match prediction. However advanced or data-driven these tools may appear, AI cannot reliably predict inherently uncertain sporting outcomes. When used to promote betting, paid subscriptions or “insider communities”, such services can create a false sense of confidence and encourage risky decisions.
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