The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has urged executive-level officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to support Nigeria’s transition from Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and improve public service delivery.
Inuwa made the call at the opening of an IPv6 migration readiness workshop in Abuja, organised by NITDA in collaboration with the Nigeria IPv6 Council and the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC).
The workshop, which brought together executive and technical personnel from MDAs, is designed to prepare government institutions for the transition through management engagement and specialised technical training.
The Director of NITDA’s Digital Development Services Department, Oladejo Olawumi, delivered the DG’s remarks at the event.
Inuwa explained that the management session was aimed at helping senior officials understand the importance of the migration and their responsibilities in supporting technical teams responsible for its implementation.
He stressed that effective communication and cooperation between management and technical personnel were critical to ensuring a smooth transition across government institutions.
According to him, the success of the migration depends largely on the commitment of senior officials, who must understand the process and provide the necessary support to their technical teams.
He said, “Without having you on board, we cannot have a proper transition. That is why we are having this training to make sure that you have the skills and you are certified.”
The NITDA chief congratulated the participants for being the first batch of management-level officials to undergo the training, urging them to take advantage of the programme to strengthen their understanding of the migration process.
He said the transition had become necessary due to the growing demand for internet addresses as more devices, government platforms and digital services connect to the internet.
IPv4, the older internet addressing system, provides approximately 4.3 billion addresses. However, the increasing use of smartphones, smart televisions, security cameras, connected vehicles and other Internet of Things devices has heightened the demand for internet connectivity.
IPv6 offers a significantly larger address space, providing a long-term solution to the limitations of IPv4 and supporting the expansion of digital infrastructure.
Inuwa linked the transition to the Federal Government’s broader digital transformation agenda, particularly efforts to make public services accessible online and strengthen Nigeria’s National Sovereign Cloud Initiative.
He noted that adopting IPv6 would enable government agencies to expand their digital platforms, accommodate increasing numbers of users and improve access to public services.
According to him, the transition is particularly important as the government seeks to reduce the need for citizens to visit public offices physically to access essential services.
Inuwa also urged directors and management officials to encourage their technical personnel to participate actively in the training, noting that specialised networking skills would create professional development opportunities for the participants.
He disclosed that NITDA was sponsoring certification for participating technical personnel, who would sit for examinations at the end of the training.
He described the initiative as an investment in strengthening the technical capacity of government institutions while improving the professional prospects of the personnel involved.
The workshop features two training streams: a Directorial/Management session focused on leadership understanding and institutional support, and a technical session designed to equip personnel with the skills required to implement the migration.
Chairman of the Nigeria IPv6 Council and Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Mohamed Rudman, is serving as the lead facilitator.
Rudman welcomed the collaboration with NITDA, describing the initiative as an important step towards accelerating IPv6 adoption across government agencies.
He urged participants to engage actively with the facilitators, stressing that their involvement would be crucial to preparing MDAs for a successful transition.
The initiative underscores the importance of combining management commitment with technical expertise to support Nigeria’s digital transformation and improve the delivery of government services.
