Adesola Akinsanya, President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association, has called on the media to lead a nationwide campaign for the urgent adoption of the .ng domain to strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity.
Adesola Akinsanya, President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA)
Akinsanya made the call during the .ng Media Advocacy and Capacity Building Initiative held on Thursday at the association’s secretariat in Lagos.
He said the media had a strategic role to play, not only in reporting developments but also in shaping national priorities and influencing public understanding of digital infrastructure.
“The media does not just report events; it sets the agenda. We need you to lead the campaign for the urgent adoption of .ng and help Nigerians understand why it matters,” he said.
Akinsanya emphasised that Nigeria’s digital identity must be deliberately constructed and protected, noting that domain names remain a critical component of national presence in the global digital ecosystem.
According to him, many Nigerian businesses and institutions continue to operate on foreign domains such as .com and .org, thereby placing their digital assets outside the country’s jurisdiction.
“Thousands of Nigerian organisations are effectively operating on rented digital land, where control, security, and governance are subject to foreign regulations,” he said.
He explained that the .ng domain, managed by NiRA under the global coordination of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, represents an important layer of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
He described domain names as digital real estate that determine visibility, credibility, and economic value creation within the digital economy.
The NiRA president warned that reliance on foreign domains contributes to a trust deficit, economic leakage, and increased security vulnerabilities.
“In an era where users are increasingly concerned about authenticity, locally identifiable domains provide stronger assurance and alignment with national systems,” he said.
Akinsanya added that while technological improvements such as DNS Security Extensions are strengthening the .ng ecosystem, widespread adoption remains essential.
He noted that the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between technical complexity and public understanding, particularly in areas such as internet governance, cybersecurity, and domain infrastructure.
According to him, Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy will depend on the alignment of infrastructure, adoption, and narrative.
He reaffirmed NiRA’s commitment to strengthening digital infrastructure and promoting the use of the .ng domain, while calling for sustained collaboration with the media.
“The story of Nigeria’s internet is still being written. Whether it reflects dependence or sovereignty will depend on the narratives we promote,” he said.
