7th .ng NiRA Awards: NITDA, Nibox, Others Clinch Honours

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nibox Payment, Lagos State Government, and others were honoured at the 7th .ng Awards, organised by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).

The event, held at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, celebrated excellence and innovation across various categories in the private, government, and individual sectors. With the theme “The Innovators of 2024.”

The awards highlighted the digital achievements in the .ng domain across sectors such as banking, agritech, state-level initiatives, and media. The platform not only recognised excellence but also actively promoted the .ng brand, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s internet growth.

The award ceremony commenced with the General Category, where Nibox Payment received the coveted “Company of the Year” award. Other winners included FairMoney, Lagos State, Galaxy Backbone, the University of Nigeria, and The Guardian.

The two-day event began with the Tech Convergence 1.0 conference, which featured insightful discussions on emerging technologies, digital trends, and the role of the .ng domain in Nigeria’s digital future.

Industry leaders, policymakers, and tech enthusiasts explored opportunities and challenges in the digital space. Highlights included a fireside chat by Lagos State’s Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake, on “Shaping Tomorrow: The Role of State-Level Collaboration in Building a Tech-Driven Future.”

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Alake emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships in driving digital growth and detailed Lagos State’s efforts to leverage technology and fund youth innovation.

Notable awards included:

FairMoney: .ng Fintech Company of the Year

Lagos State: Digital Innovation in State Government

National Information Technology Development Agency: Recognised as the Most Supportive Partner for its steadfast commitment to Nigeria’s digital ecosystem

National Identity Management Commission (NIMC): Digital Innovation in Federal Government

Jumia Nigeria: Best E-Commerce Website/Portal

The NiRA Presidential Awards recognised GO54 as Best ccTLD Registrar, NITDA as the Most Supportive Partner, Mrs. Eyitayo Iyortim for her contributions to the internet space, and Gbenga Sesan of Paradigm Initiative for his commitment to child protection online.

Special recognition awards were also presented to individuals and organisations for their contributions to Nigeria’s internet development, including Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani of Digital Realty, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Chairperson of NiRA’s Board of Trustees, and the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN).

PUNCH/Chidimma Gold