​Role of Media in advancing Nigeria’s digital identity and unveiling of DNSSEC

L–R: Mr. Ahmad Mukoshy, Director, Nigeria Internet Registration Association Executive Board; Mrs. Seyi Onasanya, Chief Operating Officer, NiRA; Ogbuefi (Remmy Nweke), Member, NiRA Board of Trustees; Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, President, NiRA; Dr. Adebiyi Oladipo, Member, NiRA Board of Trustees; and Mr. Habeeb Wahab, Head, Technical Services, NiRA during the unveiling of .ng signing of DNSSEC.

The role of the media in promoting national digital identity can no longer be over-emphasized.

This critical and onerous responsibility of promoting and advancing the nation’s digital identity by the media came to the fore at a Media Advocacy & Capacity Building Workshop organised by the Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NiRA) on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

The event which took place at the NiRA Secretariat in Surulere, Lagos State, had the theme: “The Role of Media in Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Identity”.

The training by NiRA, was not just an expose of the latest technological development and advancements in the .ng domain, challenges, but also as an outfit which carries the nation’s identity on its shoulders, there was also a need for a no-hold-barred discussion with the media on areas of possible growth in the industry.

Topics for discussion include but not limited to Nigeria”s Digital Future and why .Ng matters; Business Value of .Ng Domains and Role of the Media; Macro-economic Competitiveness of .ng; DNS fundamentals and Role of .Ng in Digital Ecosystem; Policy, Regulations and Cybersecurity; and the Unveiling of the DNSSEC.

Speaking at the event, the President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Adesola Akinsanya, who spoke on Nigeria’s Digital Future: NiRA and Why .ng Matters, urged for an irreducible commitment to Nigeria’s national identity through the adoption of the .ng domain.

Akinsanya called on media professionals to move past the role of mere observers and become active participants in shaping a narrative of intentional digital sovereignty.

He decried a situation where Nigerians and organisations patronise regrettably other domain at the expense of .ng. He opined that while Nigeria is a major digital force on the continent, thousands of businesses continue to operate as “digital nomads,” building their wealth on rented soil.

​He likened a man with foreign domain name to a Nigerian who built his mansion in Nigeria with its foundation in foreign land. “Imagine building a grand headquarters for a Nigerian media house… but deciding to place the building’s foundation on a plot of land in Virginia or California,” the NiRA helmsman stated. “You pay your rent to a foreign landlord… and if their gates close, your building, no matter how beautiful, disappears”.

He said that it is worrisome that some institutions in Nigeria currently rely on .com or .org domains rather than patronising the .ng.

He pinpointed three systemic risks likely to be encounterrd by operating outside the national framework, which include Trust Deficit whereby locally identifiable domains provide a level of assurance and authenticity that foreign domains often cannot match.

​Economic Leakage, here the value generated within the Nigerian digital ecosystem is not fully retained or reinvested locally when foreign domains are prioritized; and most importantly is the security vulnerabilities where the reliance on foreign infrastructure creates risks in jurisdiction, incident response, and national resilience.

​He stated that to bridge the uncrossable chasms between technical complexity and public understanding, NIRA is prioritizing a coordinated national framework that aligns infrastructure, adoption, and narrative.

He further stressed that technology alone, such as DNS Security Extensions, cannot drive change without a shift in perception.

​”The story of Nigeria’s internet is still being written,” Akinsanya concluded. Whether it reflects external dependence or intentional digital sovereignty will depend, in part, on the narratives that gain prominence”.

The event was also a veritable opportunity to inform the public that Nigeria has enhanced its digital future with the deployment of Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) on the .ng domain.

The Journalists who were mainly members of Nigerian Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) were informed that Nigeria has taken a significant step toward securing its digital future with the deployment of Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) on the .ng domain—a development that goes beyond technical advancement to touch the core of national sovereignty, economic value, and digital trust.

The deployment was carried out by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the registry responsible for managing Nigeria’s country code top-level domain (.ng).

NiRA said the successful signing of the .ng zone introduces cryptographic protection into Nigeria’s Domain Name System (DNS), ensuring that users who visit .ng websites are connected to authentic destinations. It is a direct response to growing cyber threats such as phishing, spoofing, and traffic hijacking—risks that have become more pronounced as Nigeria’s digital economy expands. Of course, while DNSSEC strengthens the infrastructure, it also raises a more fundamental question: who owns Nigeria’s digital identity—and who benefits from it? With the addition of DNSSEC, its value proposition has become even stronger, secure, local, and globally competitive.

The gain for the nation, the infrastructure is being secured. The policies are taking shape. The opportunity is undeniable, and what is needed is a collective decision to build, adopt, and own Nigeria’s digital future from within.

The unveiling positions Nigeria among forward-looking nations that have adopted advanced technologies to secure their internet ecosystems, reinforcing the country’s commitment to building a trusted, resilient, and globally competitive digital economy.

Speaking at the unveiling, the President of NiRA said, “The successful deployment and unveiling of DNSSEC on the .ng domain represents a defining moment for Nigeria’s internet ecosystem. As more critical services move online, it is essential that we provide a secure and trusted digital environment for citizens, businesses, and government. This milestone reflects our commitment to global best practices and to building a resilient digital future for Nigeria.”

The President further added: “A secure domain name system is fundamental to the growth of the digital economy. By strengthening trust in the .ng namespace, we are creating an enabling environment for innovation, investment, and digital services to thrive within Nigeria and beyond.”

This development is particularly significant for sectors that rely heavily on secure digital infrastructure, including financial services, telecommunications, e-commerce, and government platforms. Institutions regulated by bodies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission stand to benefit from enhanced protection against cyber threats such as phishing, spoofing, and data interception.

The deployment also aligns with national digital transformation and cybersecurity objectives championed by key government institutions, including the National Information Technology Development Agency and the Office of the National Security Adviser, further reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a forward-looking digital economy.

According to NiRA the DNSSEC implementation has been successfully completed, with the .ng zone fully signed and currently undergoing a monitoring phase to ensure continued stability and optimal performance.

A phased rollout will now commence, enabling accredited registrars and domain owners to
adopt DNSSEC protection for their individual domain names.

Oluwaseyi Onasanya, Chief Operating Office, NIRA revealed:
“This deployment is the result of careful planning, technical expertise, and strong collaboration across the ecosystem. While the .ng zone has now been securely signed, our focus is on ensuring a smooth rollout and driving adoption among registrars and domain owners.”

NiRA is calling on organisations operating critical digital services; particularly banks, fintech companies, telecommunications providers, government agencies, and e-commerce platforms, to take advantage of this capability and integrate DNSSEC into their cybersecurity frameworks.

Further speaking on the Macro-economic Competitiveness of .ng, Onasanya said, “Every nation today competes not just in trade or industry but in digital visibility, trust, and identity. And the foundation of that digital identity begins with a domain name.

“Every nation’s competitiveness in the digital age begins with how it defines and manages its digital identity. For Nigeria, that foundation is .ng, our Nigeria’s digital economy, our online presence must be anchored on our national identity, not rented, but owned,” she said.

She further spoke on the Digital Economy Race: Where Competitiveness Begins

Onasanya said that Domain data is not just internet data, but national competitiveness data.

Speaking on the Media and the .ng Ecosystem, Policy, Regulations, and Cybersecurity, Mr Ridwan Badmaus, stressed on the need for the media to promote local digital identity by consistently highlighting the importance of the .ng Domain; bridge the knowledge gap by clearly explaining the benefits of using .ng Domain over foreign alternatives; contribute to Nigeria”s Digital growth by influencing business behavior; sharing positive, accurate, and well-informed reporting on digital identity , cybersecurity and domain governance to encourage wider adoption of the .ng Domain

He said the Role of the media include to hold policy actors responsible, promote digital literacy, contribute to policy development, amplify Nigeria’s digital participation, educate the public, report responsibly on cyber incidents and safeguards, and then encourage adoption of the.ng domain.

On Gaps and Challenges, he said misuse of domain names for fraudulent activities, reluctance of business with registered foreign domain names to migrate or diversify, domain management vulnerability, inadequate infrastructure investment, and there is also a lack of robust support to encourage the hosting of local data, which would increase the reliance on the .Ng Domain.

In the end, he recommended that there should be stronger collaboration across government, private sector and the media, continuous capacity building and training, sustained public awareness campaigns, and increased investment in cybersecurity infrastructure.

Mr Adebiyi Oladipo, Vice Chair, ICANN, ccNSO, spoke on Business Value of .Ng Domain and Role of the Media

He started by asking who owns .Ng? Adding that every online business in Nigeria has a digital home. He said many are not in Nigeria, choosing .com exports value, while digital identity equals economic power.

Oladipo maintained that domains is digital estate, saying that domains are economic assets, they power businesses and ecosystems.
He added that .ng is Nigeria’s digital territory.

On why .ng has become important he said it is because, it contributes 18% to GDP, ensures rapid growth in online business, ownership still largely external.

He said that as Nigeria’s Digital assets, .ng retains value, already with 200000.ng and still growing. Local ownership retains value and supports, SMS, supports jobs and innovations.

On what he called trust economy, he said, misinformation is rising, online credibility is rising.

Speaking further on what he called media blind spot, he said the media covers startups, AI, and fintech but ignores digital identity, adding that domains are digital identity.

He urged the media to use .ng platforms, promote .ng stories, educate audience, and spotlight Nigeria’s digital businesses.

Other speakers include,
DNS fundamentals and role of .Ng in Digital Ecosystem by Ahmad Mukoshy, Executive Board of Director, NiRA

The Q and A, and interactive panel session was moderated by Chike Onwuegbuchi, Chairman, Nigerian Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA).