Anniversary activities will celebrate two decades of Internet interconnection, develop the next generation of technical talent, promote greater inclusion, preserve Nigeria’s Internet history and recognise the pioneers and institutions that helped shape the country’s Internet ecosystem.
The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) has announced a month-long programme of activities to commemorate its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of advancing Internet interconnection, encouraging the localisation of Internet traffic and contributing to the development of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. Under the theme “20 Years of Building Nigeria’s Internet,” the anniversary programme will celebrate the people, institutions and partnerships that have contributed to the growth of Nigeria’s Internet ecosystem, while creating opportunities to develop the skills, talent, infrastructure and partnerships required for its next phase.
Established in 2006, IXPN was created as a neutral platform through which Internet Service Providers, telecommunications operators, content providers, data centres and other network operators can exchange Internet traffic locally. Over the past two decades, IXPN has evolved alongside Nigeria’s Internet ecosystem, providing critical interconnection infrastructure and enabling participating networks to exchange traffic more efficiently within the country.
Speaking ahead of the anniversary, Muhammed Rudman, Chief Executive Officer of IXPN, said: “IXPN@20 is more than a celebration of an organisation. It is an opportunity to recognise the people, institutions and partnerships that have contributed to the development of Internet interconnection in Nigeria over the past two decades, while preparing the next generation to take Nigeria’s Internet forward.
“From a relatively small interconnection initiative in 2006, IXPN has grown into an important component of Nigeria’s Internet infrastructure. As we celebrate this milestone, our focus is not only on where we have come from, but also on the skills, infrastructure, partnerships and people that will be required for the next twenty years,” he said.
Building the next generation
A central focus of IXPN@20 will be developing the next generation of professionals who will build and operate Nigeria’s Internet infrastructure. The anniversary programme will include the Student Internet Infrastructure Discovery Programme, bringing together approximately 100 students from universities and other tertiary institutions offering ICT-related programmes across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Participants will be introduced to the evolution of the Internet in Nigeria, Internet exchange, network operations, Internet Service Providers and the role of data centres. The programme will also include industry engagement, facility visits to data centres including Open Access Data Centres, Rack Centre and Digital Realty, as well as discussions around internships and careers in Internet infrastructure.
In collaboration with the Nigeria IPv6 Council, IXPN will also partner with AFRINIC to deliver an IPv6 Capacity-Building Programme for network operators, engineers, universities and other technical stakeholders. The practical training programme will strengthen the technical skills required to support IPv6 deployment and help prepare Nigerian networks for continued Internet growth.
Women building Nigeria’s Internet
Another major component of the anniversary programme will be the IXPN@20 Women in Internet Infrastructure Forum, designed to recognise women contributing to the Internet ecosystem while encouraging more women to pursue careers in the infrastructure that powers the digital economy.
Under the theme “Women in Technology: Breaking the Barriers, Building the Future,” the Forum will bring together established industry leaders, technical professionals, young professionals and students.
Discussions will explore career opportunities in network engineering, peering, data centres, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, DNS, IPv6, Internet governance and other technical areas.
Beyond discussion, the Forum will emphasize “From Conversation to Action,” encouraging IXPN members and ecosystem partners to support mentorship, professional certifications, internships, technical training, facility visits and employment pathways for women entering the sector.
Strengthening peering and interconnection
The anniversary programme will also feature the Nigeria Peering and Interconnection Forum, convening network operators, content providers, data centres, regulators and other industry stakeholders to discuss the future of peering, interconnection, routing, resilience and local-content delivery in Nigeria.
The Forum will provide an opportunity for the Internet community to examine how stronger local interconnection can support the continued growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Preserving 20 years of Nigeria’s Internet history
As part of the anniversary, IXPN is producing a special documentary and institutional archive chronicling its establishment, major milestones and contribution to Nigeria’s Internet ecosystem.
Founders, former leaders, early members, technical professionals, regulators, partners and other industry stakeholders will provide first-hand accounts of the challenges involved in establishing local Internet interconnection and the evolution of IXPN over the past two decades.
The documentary will explore IXPN’s beginnings, the role of its founding members, the growth of its network and partnerships, the arrival of major content networks, the contribution of data-centre partners and the wider impact of local interconnection on Nigeria’s Internet development.
Members of Nigeria’s Internet community are also being encouraged to contribute historical photographs, documents, videos and other records to help preserve this important part of the country’s digital history.
IXPN@20 Grand Gala and Excellence & Legacy Awards
The anniversary programme will culminate in the IXPN@20 Grand Gala Dinner and Excellence & Legacy Awards, scheduled for Friday, 30 October 2026, in Lagos.
The invitation-only event will bring together key figures and institutions from government, regulation, telecommunications, Internet service provision, content networks, data centres, academia, the technical community, media and the wider digital ecosystem.
The evening will feature the premiere of the IXPN@20 anniversary documentary and the presentation of the IXPN@20 Excellence & Legacy Awards, recognising individuals and institutions whose contributions have played important roles in IXPN’s establishment, growth and impact.
The six award categories are:
- IXPN Founding Members Legacy Award
- Pioneer Content Network Award
- Strategic Data Centre Partnership Award
- Distinguished Contribution to Internet Exchange Development Award
- Government & Regulatory Champion Award
- Distinguished Contribution to Internet Journalism Award
Looking to the next 20 years
While IXPN@20 will celebrate the organisation’s history, the anniversary programme will also provide a platform for discussing the future of Nigeria’s Internet infrastructure.
The continuing growth of cloud services, artificial intelligence, streaming platforms, financial technology and other digital services will place increasing demands on connectivity, computing infrastructure, network resilience and local interconnection.
IXPN believes that meeting these demands will require deeper collaboration among network operators, content providers, data centres, government institutions, regulators, educational and research institutions, technical communities and other stakeholders.
Rudman added: “The first twenty years were about establishing the Exchange, building trust among networks and demonstrating the value of local interconnection. The next twenty years must be about extending that value even further – strengthening resilience, expanding interconnection, developing technical capacity, bringing more networks and institutions into the ecosystem, and ensuring that Nigeria is well positioned for the next phase of the digital economy.”