The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) has unveiled a month-long programme to mark its 20th anniversary, with activities focused on technical capacity development, inclusion, industry collaboration and preserving Nigeria’s Internet history
The programme, themed “20 Years of Building Nigeria’s Internet,” will celebrate IXPN’s contribution to Internet interconnection while supporting the development of infrastructure and skills needed for Nigeria’s digital future
Established in 2006, IXPN provides a neutral platform for Internet Service Providers, telecommunications operators, content providers and data centres to exchange Internet traffic locally This helps improve network efficiency and supports the growth of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
IXPN Chief Executive Officer, Muhammed Rudman, said the anniversary would honour stakeholders who contributed to the organisation’s development while preparing the next generation of Internet infrastructure professionals
“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,” he said.
Rudman noted that IXPN had evolved from a relatively small interconnection initiative into an important component of Nigeria’s Internet infrastructure
The anniversary programme will feature a Student Internet Infrastructure Discovery Programme, involving about 100 students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones Participants will gain practical exposure to Internet exchange operations, network management and data centre infrastructure, including visits to Open Access Data Centres, Rack Centre and Digital Realty.
In partnership with the Nigeria IPv6 Council and AFRINIC, IXPN will also organise an IPv6 capacity-building programme for engineers, network operators and other technical professionals
Another major activity is the IXPN@20 Women in Internet Infrastructure Forum, designed to encourage greater participation by women in network engineering, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and other technology careers through mentorship, training and professional development
The programme will also feature the Nigeria Peering and Interconnection Forum, bringing industry stakeholders together to discuss network resilience, local traffic exchange and infrastructure development
To preserve the history of Nigeria’s Internet development, IXPN is producing a documentary and institutional archive chronicling its establishment, milestones and contributions to the country’s digital ecosystem
The celebrations will culminate in an invitation-only gala dinner and Excellence & Legacy Awards on October 30, 2026, in Lagos
Six award categories will recognise founding members, content networks, data centre partners, government and regulatory champions, Internet exchange pioneers and technology journalists for their contributions to Nigeria’s Internet infrastructure development