Nigeria pushes digital infrastructure upgrade as NCC inaugurates IPv6 council

The Nigerian Communications Commission has inaugurated a new IPv6 Council Board as part of efforts to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), a key infrastructure upgrade expected to support the country’s expanding digital economy.

The inauguration ceremony, held in Ikeja, Lagos, brought together leading figures in the country’s telecommunications and internet ecosystem to chart a coordinated national strategy for IPv6 adoption.

Among those appointed to the newly constituted board is the Director of Engineering and Innovation at ipNX, Olusola Teniola, who joins a high-level group of industry stakeholders, regulators, and digital infrastructure experts.

Other members of the council include prominent industry figures such as Funke Opeke, Muhammed Rudman, Chris Uwaje, Mary Uduma, Gbenga Adebayo, Lanre Ajayi, and global IPv6 advocate Latif Ladid, alongside representatives of relevant government and regulatory institutions.

Speaking on his appointment, Teniola expressed appreciation to the NCC for the opportunity to contribute to the national digital transformation agenda, stressing that the shift to IPv6 is no longer optional but urgent. 

“The transition to IPv6 is no longer a future consideration; it is an immediate priority for Nigeria’s digital economy,” he said. “As data consumption grows and emerging technologies such as 5G, IoT, and AI become more pervasive, we must ensure that our underlying infrastructure is scalable, secure, and globally competitive.”

He emphasized that achieving meaningful IPv6 adoption in Nigeria will require collaboration across all sectors of the digital ecosystem, including telecom operators, internet service providers, government agencies, enterprises, and academic institutions.

“This is a collective responsibility. We must invest in capacity building, drive awareness, and create the right policy and regulatory environment to accelerate adoption. Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind in an increasingly connected world,” he added.

The IPv6 Council Board has been mandated to develop and implement a comprehensive national IPv6 transition strategy, track progress across industry stakeholders, and provide regular updates on adoption levels nationwide.

The council will also focus on addressing technical and infrastructural challenges, strengthening local expertise, and recommending policy incentives to encourage faster deployment of IPv6 across networks and digital platforms.

According to the NCC, the initiative forms part of broader efforts to modernize Nigeria’s internet infrastructure and ensure long-term scalability as data demand continues to rise.

Teniola’s appointment further underscores ipNX’s ongoing involvement in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure development and its commitment to building resilient, future-ready networks capable of supporting the country’s growing digital economy.