NiRA Unveils Tech Convergence 3.0 to Advance Nigeria’s Digital Sovereignty Agenda
Digitnomics 
By Francisca Anuforo,
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), manager of Nigeria’s country code top-level domain (.ng), has announced the third edition of its flagship digital policy and technology forum, Tech Convergence 3.0, scheduled for June 2, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
The one-day forum is expected to convene policymakers, regulators, technology leaders, cybersecurity experts, legal professionals, investors and civil society stakeholders to address critical issues shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
Themed “Strengthening Nigeria’s Digital Independence: The Role of Policy, Digital Identity & .ng for Economic Growth,” the conference comes amid growing concerns about Africa’s digital sovereignty, data localisation, internet security and the continent’s dependence on foreign digital infrastructure.
NiRA said Tech Convergence 3.0 aims to move discussions beyond policy rhetoric toward practical actions capable of strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy and reducing external dependency.
According to the association, more than 90 per cent of African internet traffic, including data generated within Nigeria, is still routed through servers located outside the continent, raising concerns over data security, value leakage and national digital control.
President of NiRA, Adesola Akinsanya, described the upcoming edition as the most significant since the initiative began.
“Tech Convergence 3.0 is the most consequential edition of this forum to date. Nigeria is at an inflection point in its digital journey, and the decisions we make now on policy, infrastructure, identity and internet security will define our digital economy for the next generation,” Akinsanya said.
He added that NiRA remains committed to ensuring the forum delivers measurable outcomes capable of influencing national digital development.
The programme will feature keynote presentations, technical discussions and policy-focused sessions addressing major pillars of Nigeria’s digital economy.
One of the lead panel discussions, ‘From Policy to Prosperity: Unlocking Nigeria’s Digital Economy Through Identity, Infrastructure and .ng,’ will examine how policy, regulation and digital identity systems can support national economic growth and digital competitiveness.
Another presentation titled ‘Are We Building Nigeria’s Internet or Renting It?’ will provide a data-driven assessment of Nigeria’s digital dependence and propose pathways toward greater infrastructure localisation.
Cybersecurity and internet trust infrastructure will also receive significant attention.
A dedicated panel on DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) will explore the deployment of secure domain name systems across government institutions, financial services and telecommunications networks as protection against cyber threats.
Participants will also examine the implications of offshore data hosting during a presentation titled ‘The 90% Offshore Data Risk: Myth, Threat or Opportunity?’, which will assess both the risks and opportunities associated with data localisation and domestic infrastructure expansion.
Chairman of the Tech Convergence Committee and Executive Director of NiRA, Seun Kehinde, said this year’s programme was designed with a stronger emphasis on outcomes and implementation.
“We are not here to repeat the same conversations. Every session has been built around a specific, actionable outcome, whether that is a policy recommendation, a DNSSEC deployment roadmap, or a new partnership agreement,” Kehinde said.
The conference will conclude with the adoption of the Tech Convergence 3.0 Communiqué, a formal document containing policy recommendations and institutional commitments expected to be submitted to government ministries and regulatory agencies.
Tech Convergence 3.0 will feature speakers from government, academia, technology, cybersecurity and global internet governance institutions.
Confirmed participants include Ahmad Mukoshy, Founder and CEO of GigaLayer; Basil Udotai, Founding Partner at Johnson & Wilner LLP; Engr. Salisu Kaka, Director of e-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA; Dr. Muktar Bello, cybersecurity expert; Jon Ferguson, Vice President of Cybersecurity at the Canada Internet Registration Authority; Biyi Oladipo, Vice Chair of ICANN ccNSO; Muhammed Rudman, CEO of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria; and Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone.
Others include Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), alongside several private sector and civil society leaders.
Chief Operating Officer of NiRA, Seyi Onasanya, said the calibre of speakers reflects the growing importance of digital governance conversations in Nigeria.
“The calibre of speakers confirmed for Tech Convergence 3.0 speaks to the significance of this moment for Nigeria’s digital economy. We have assembled a faculty that can deliver the depth and specificity this conversation demands,” she said.
NiRA expects the conference to attract participants from government ministries, regulatory agencies, financial institutions, telecom operators, technology startups, law firms, academic institutions and international internet governance bodies.
The association noted that the first two editions of Tech Convergence attracted more than 1,500 participants, over 50 expert speakers and multiple strategic partners, producing recommendations that have contributed to national digital policy discussions.
In addition to policy sessions, the event will feature an exhibition showcasing Nigerian technology startups, digital infrastructure providers and innovation-driven businesses contributing to the country’s digital transformation.
As custodian of Nigeria’s .ng domain, NiRA said the conference aligns with its broader mission of promoting local internet infrastructure, encouraging .ng adoption and strengthening Nigeria’s digital sovereignty.
