The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has opened nominations for the 9th .ng Awards 2026, inviting Nigerians to nominate businesses, institutions and individuals using the .ng domain to drive innovation and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.
Key Highlights
- .ng Awards 2026 nominations opened on October 6 and will close on October 11.
- The 9th .ng Awards feature 19 general award categories open to public nominations.
- Public voting is scheduled to begin on October 12 and end on November 5, 2026.
- Categories include Best Banking Website, Best Online Media Website, Best E-payment Website and .ng FinTech Website.
- Other categories recognise e-commerce, education, government and online service platforms.
- The 2026 edition coincides with NiRA’s 20th anniversary of contributing to Nigeria’s internet development.
- More than 120 organisations and individuals have reportedly been recognised since the awards began in 2016.
- Winners will be announced at the 9th .ng Awards Night in Lagos.
.ng Awards 2026 Nominations Open
The .ng Awards 2026 nomination window opened on October 6 and will remain open until October 11, after which shortlisted nominees will proceed to a public voting exercise.
The annual awards recognise businesses, institutions and individuals making notable contributions to Nigeria’s digital ecosystem through the use of the .ng country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD).
Unlike awards focused exclusively on technology companies, the .ng Awards cover a wide range of sectors where digital platforms have become increasingly important, including banking, fintech, e-commerce, education, media, government and online services.
19 Categories Open for Public Nomination
A total of 19 general award categories are available for public nominations in the 2026 edition.
The categories include Most Innovative Service Provider Online, Best Banking Website, Best Online Media Website, Best E-payment Website, .ng FinTech Website, Best E-commerce Website and Best Tertiary Institution Website.
There are also categories recognising state and federal government websites and other digital platforms.
According to NiRA, the nomination process is designed to identify organisations and individuals deliberately building credible, useful and innovative digital services around Nigeria’s own internet identity.
NiRA Calls for Nominations
Chairman of the .ng Awards Committee, Peter Oluka, urged Nigerians to nominate organisations and individuals they believe are making meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s digital space.
Oluka said the awards provide an opportunity to recognise organisations and individuals building useful and credible digital services on the Nigerian domain.
He added that the 2026 nominations should reflect the breadth and diversity of organisations contributing to Nigeria’s digital development.
.ng Awards 2026 Coincide With NiRA’s 20th Anniversary
The 2026 edition comes as NiRA marks 20 years of contributing to the development of Nigeria’s internet ecosystem.
NiRA, which manages the .ng domain, said the milestone provides an opportunity to recognise organisations that have adopted the Nigerian domain to establish and expand their online presence.
NiRA President, Adesola Akinsanya, said the awards would further highlight the growing relevance of Nigeria’s digital identity.
According to Akinsanya, the 2026 edition offers another opportunity to recognise organisations and individuals contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem across different sectors.
More Than 120 Previous Winners Recognised
Since the .ng Awards began in 2016, more than 120 organisations and individuals have reportedly been recognised for using the .ng domain to build and strengthen Nigeria’s internet ecosystem.
Following the close of nominations on October 11, shortlisted nominees will be presented to the public for voting.
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.ng Awards 2026 Voting Dates
Public voting is scheduled to commence on October 12, 2026, and will run until November 5, 2026.
Winners will subsequently be determined through the established awards criteria and evaluation process before being announced at the 9th .ng Awards Night in Lagos.
The ceremony will be strictly by invitation, while NiRA is expected to stream the event through its official social media platforms.
General and Presidential Awards
The .ng Awards 2026 are divided into two broad categories: General Awards and Presidential Awards.
The General Awards are open to public nominations and voting, while the Presidential Awards are conferred by the NiRA President to recognise individuals or organisations that have made impactful contributions to the .ng domain ecosystem.
NiRA Pushes Digital Sovereignty Through .ng Domain
Beyond celebrating outstanding websites and digital platforms, NiRA is positioning the .ng domain as part of Nigeria’s broader drive towards digital sovereignty and stronger local participation in the internet economy.
The association said the continued growth of the .ng domain requires sustained investment in security, reliability, accessibility and systems that make it easier for businesses and institutions to establish their digital identities under .ng.
NiRA Chief Operating Officer, Oluwaseyi Onasanya, said maintaining the infrastructure supporting the domain remains essential as more Nigerians and businesses move their operations online.
Onasanya said the growth of .ng requires continuous work to ensure that the domain remains secure, reliable and accessible to users.
He added that NiRA would continue improving the systems and processes supporting the .ng ecosystem while working with stakeholders to encourage wider adoption.
.ng Awards Highlight Nigeria’s Growing Digital Economy
The latest .ng Awards 2026 initiative goes beyond celebrating websites and online platforms.
It also highlights the growing number of Nigerian businesses, institutions and public organisations establishing digital platforms while strengthening the visibility and credibility of Nigeria’s own internet identity.
With nominations now open, attention will turn to the businesses, institutions and individuals Nigerians consider deserving of recognition among the country’s leading .ng digital innovators in 2026.
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