By Stella Odueme
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has commenced training for officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to facilitate Nigeria’s transition from Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said the transition was critical to expanding digital public services, improving internet connectivity and strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.
Inuwa spoke 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).
His remarks were delivered by the Director of the Agency’s Digital Development Services Department, Oladejo Olawumi.
According to a statement by the Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Hadiza Umar, on Tuesday, the workshop features two training streams designed to prepare government institutions for the migration, with one targeting directors and management-level officials, while the other focuses on technical personnel responsible for implementing the transition.
Inuwa explained that the management training was designed to help senior officials understand the importance of IPv6 adoption and provide the necessary support for their technical teams.
He stressed that cooperation between management and technical personnel would be essential to ensuring a smooth transition across government institutions.
“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,” he said.
The NITDA chief noted that the growing number of internet-connected devices and the increasing adoption of digital services had made the transition necessary.
He explained that IPv4, the older internet addressing system, supports approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses, while the rising use of smartphones, smart televisions, security cameras, connected vehicles and other Internet of Things devices continues to increase demand for internet addresses.
IPv6, he said, provides a significantly larger address space, offering a sustainable foundation for expanding internet connectivity and supporting the growing digital needs of government institutions.
Inuwa linked the initiative to the Federal Government’s broader digital transformation agenda, including efforts to improve online access to public services and strengthen the National Sovereign Cloud Initiative.
According to him, adopting IPv6 would enable government agencies to scale up their digital platforms as more citizens embrace online services.
He added that the transition would support efforts to reduce the need for citizens to visit government offices physically by improving the infrastructure required for efficient digital service delivery.
Beyond institutional benefits, Inuwa urged directors and management officials to encourage their technical personnel to participate actively in the training, 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 for examinations at the end of the programme.
He described the certification as an investment in strengthening the technical capacity of government institutions while advancing the professional development of the personnel involved.
The technical sessions are being facilitated by Mohamed Rudman, Chairman of the IPv6 Council of Nigeria and Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN).
Rudman welcomed the partnership with NITDA, describing the initiative as an important step towards promoting IPv6 adoption among government agencies.
He urged participants to engage actively with the facilitators, emphasising that their participation would help prepare their respective institutions for the migration.
The initiative highlights the importance of combining management commitment with technical expertise to support IPv6 adoption and advance Nigeria’s digital transformation objectives.