By BONIFACE AKARAH

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has begun training executive and technical personnel of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to support Nigeria’s transition from Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), a move aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure and expanding online public services.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, made the call at the opening of an IPv6 migration readiness workshop in Abuja, organised by the agency in collaboration with the Nigeria IPv6 Council and the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC). His remarks were delivered by Oladejo Olawumi, Director of NITDA’s Digital Development Services Department.

The workshop has two training streams: one designed to help directors and management-level officials understand the transition and their responsibilities in supporting it, and another focused on developing the technical skills required to implement the migration.

Inuwa said management support was crucial to ensuring that technical personnel could carry out the transition successfully across government institutions.

“It is to help you understand the process of transitioning from IPv4 to IPv6 and why we need to do it. And importantly, to support the technical staff who are also being trained. So, you need to support them when they start the migration process,” he said.

He added that the participating officials were the first group to receive the management-focused training for MDAs, stressing that their involvement was necessary for a smooth transition.

“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,” Inuwa said.

The NITDA chief explained that the migration had become necessary as demand for internet addresses continued to rise with the growing number of devices and services connected to digital networks.

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 intensified demand for internet connectivity.

IPv6 offers a substantially larger address space, providing a long-term foundation for expanding connectivity and supporting the growing digital needs of government institutions and citizens.

Inuwa linked the transition to the Federal Government’s broader digital transformation agenda, including efforts to make public services accessible online and strengthen Nigeria’s National Sovereign Cloud Initiative.

He noted that as government agencies digitise more services and process increasing volumes of data, reliable network infrastructure and effective internet addressing systems would become essential to maintaining access and improving service delivery.

The transition, he said, would also support MDAs seeking to reduce the need for citizens to visit government offices physically by making more services available through digital platforms.

Beyond the institutional benefits, Inuwa urged directors and management officials to encourage their technical personnel to take the training seriously, noting that specialised networking skills could create professional opportunities for participants.

He disclosed that NITDA was funding certification for participating technical personnel, who were expected to sit examinations at the end of the training. He described the initiative as an investment in both the capacity of government institutions and the careers of the personnel involved.

The workshop features technical sessions alongside the directors’ and management-level training. Mohamed Rudman, Chairman of the IPv6 Council of Nigeria and Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), is serving as the lead facilitator.

Rudman welcomed the collaboration with NITDA, describing it as an important step towards encouraging IPv6 adoption across government agencies. He urged participants to engage actively with the trainers, stressing that their involvement would be crucial to preparing their institutions for the transition.

The two-stream training approach highlights the need for both management commitment and technical expertise as Nigeria advances its digital transformation efforts.

•PHOTO: Group photograph of the participants and facilitators at the IPv6 Migration Training for management-level and technical personnel of MDAs.