9th .ng Awards Open for Public Nominations

The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has opened nominations for the 9th .ng Awards, inviting individuals and organisations to nominate businesses, digital initiatives and internet users making an impact through the .ng domain.

The annual awards recognise organisations and individuals using the .ng domain to build businesses, deliver digital services, provide information and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s internet ecosystem.

The 2026 .ng Awards are designed to spotlight Nigerian businesses, individuals, charities, and public and private sector organisations helping to make the internet more secure, open, accessible and rewarding for users.

NiRA said it believes in the power of the internet and is committed to ensuring that the .ng domain name space has a positive impact on internet users. The association also seeks to recognise initiatives within the ecosystem, encourage public engagement with them and highlight their contribution to Nigeria’s digital development.

The awards are open to any organisation or individual contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s digital space through the use of a .ng domain name.

There will be two broad categories for the 2026 awards: the Presidential Awards and the General Awards.

Award criteria

To qualify for the 2026 .ng Awards, a company, organisation or individual must be registered and conducting business with a .ng domain name. The domain must have been registered for more than 12 months, while the website associated with the domain must be active on the internet.

Other criteria that will be considered include the extent to which the website is up to date, the quality and level of locally produced content, user experience, functionality, relevance and dynamism.

The assessment will consider how easily users can navigate the website, the effectiveness of its features, the accuracy and relevance of information provided, as well as the level of interaction and engagement offered to visitors.

Nomination and selection process

Nominations for the General Awards category are open to the public. Individuals, organisations and institutions that meet the award criteria can submit nominations during the 15-day nomination period.

The .ng Awards committee will review all entries to determine their eligibility and qualification before releasing the final shortlist for public voting through the awards website.

The committee may reclassify or recategorise entries where necessary and may remove submissions that fail to meet the entry requirements. Entries that differ substantially from the award criteria will be disqualified without prior notice to the entrants.

Voting and judging

Voting will be open to the public, with public votes accounting for 40 per cent of the overall score, while votes from the awards committee will account for the remaining 60 per cent.

The voting period will run for 25 days.

Winners will also receive access to .ng Awards icons in various sizes and formats for use on their websites and marketing materials.

2026 .ng Awards categories

The 2026 .ng Awards will recognise achievements across a broad range of sectors and digital initiatives, including:

• Company of the Year: Recognises an organisation that has demonstrated excellence in online business innovation, contributed significantly to the Nigerian internet community and achieved notable growth.
• Most Innovative Service Provider Online: Recognises an organisation promoting innovative service delivery through the internet.
• Best Commercial Banking Website/Portal: Recognises the commercial bank website or portal delivering the best user experience.
• Best Insurance Website/Portal: Recognises the insurance company website or portal delivering the best user experience.
• Best E-payment Website/Portal: Recognises an e-payment company with a website or portal that delivers an outstanding user experience.
• .NG Fintech Company of the Year: Recognises a .ng fintech company providing financial technology solutions with a strong user experience.
• Best E-commerce Website/Portal: Recognises an e-commerce website demonstrating creativity, ingenuity, innovation and an outstanding user experience.
• Best Website/Portal for Tertiary Institutions, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and Schools of Nursing: Recognises the institution with the best .edu.ng website or portal, based on currency, local content, usability, relevance to educational services and dynamism.
• Best Primary/Secondary School Website/Portal: Recognises the primary or secondary school with the best .sch.ng website or portal based on currency, local content, ease of use, relevance and dynamism.
• Startup Company of the Year: Recognises a startup that has operated for less than five years and uses the internet creatively and innovatively to scale its business and improve competitiveness.
• Best Local Hosting Company: Recognises the best local website hosting company in Nigeria and aims to encourage the continued growth of the local hosting industry.
• Best Technology Hub Website/Portal: Recognises a technology hub that creates innovative infrastructure for ICT skills development while using its website or portal to support entrepreneurs and engage with its local community.
• Best Agric Tech Company of the Year: Recognises an agricultural company using technology to improve farming efficiency and profitability.
• Digital Innovation in State Government: Recognises a state government that has invested in technology to promote innovation and local content development.
• Digital Innovation in Federal Government: Recognises the Federal Government website or portal providing an outstanding user experience.

.NG Media Awards

The .ng Media Award recognises excellence in journalism and other media-related activities, with emphasis on the promotion of local and original content.

The media category comprises four award groups:

• Best Print Media Website: Recognises a print media website that delivers high-quality, original content and an exceptional online user experience.
• Best Online Media Website: Recognises an online media website demonstrating excellence in providing original, relevant content and an exceptional user experience.
• Best Electronic Media Website (Television): Recognises a television media website that demonstrates digital innovation in content and delivers an exceptional online experience.
• Best Electronic Media Website (Radio): Recognises a radio media website that delivers original and compelling audio content while enhancing listener experience and online engagement.

The 9th .ng Awards provide an opportunity for Nigerian businesses, organisations, institutions and individuals contributing to the country’s digital ecosystem to gain recognition for their work and impact through the .ng domain.