Former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Dr Ernest Ndukwe; former Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and former Acting Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Bashir Gwandu; and veteran technology journalist and publisher, Aaron Ukodie, were among distinguished personalities honoured for their contributions to the development of Nigeria’s Internet ecosystem.
From left a former Acting executive Vice Chairman at NCC Stephen Bello, Mrs Mary Uduma former director at NCC, Gwandu, Ndukwe and Mrs Ndukwe
They received the recognitions at the 20th anniversary gala dinner and Excellence and Legacy Awards of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), held on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The ceremony brought together leading figures from government, telecommunications, Internet service provision, technology, data centre operations, academia and the media to celebrate individuals and institutions whose contributions have helped shape Nigeria’s Internet infrastructure and digital economy over the past two decades.
Several other personalities from the technology and media industries were also recognised for their outstanding contributions to the growth, development and sustainability of Internet infrastructure in Nigeria.
Cutting the anniversary cake: in picture are Ndukwe, Onyekwere, Gwandu Rudman, Rasheed, Mrs Rudman and other members of ixpn board of directors
The award citations were read by IXPN Chief Executive Officer, Mr Muhammed Rudman, alongside the Chairman of the IXPN Board, Mr Chima Onyekwere, and other members of the board, including Mrs Zubaida Rasheed, a former management staff member of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) Alhaji Aminu Tijjani, Yen Choi and Mr Sunday Afolayan .
The citations highlighted the achievements and enduring contributions of the recipients to Nigeria’s digital development, recognising their respective roles in advancing telecommunications, Internet infrastructure, institutional development and technology journalism.
Dr Ndukwe was recognised for his visionary leadership, institutional support and distinguished contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria’s telecommunications and Internet ecosystem.
His recognition reflects his pivotal role in shaping the country’s telecommunications landscape, particularly during his tenure as Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, when Nigeria witnessed significant growth in mobile telecommunications, private sector investment and the expansion of digital connectivity.
His leadership helped create an enabling regulatory environment for the liberalisation and expansion of the telecommunications industry, laying important foundations for the growth of broadband services and the wider digital economy. His continued involvement in the industry, including his role as Chairman of MTN Nigeria, further underscores his enduring commitment to the advancement of the country’s communications sector.
Dr Gwandu, a former Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI and former Acting Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, was also honoured for his contributions to institutional development and the advancement of Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications sectors.
Among the media award recipients was Aaron Ukodie, publisher of eWorld News and veteran technology journalist, who received recognition for his longstanding contributions to Internet journalism and documentation of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
According to the citation read at the ceremony, Ukodie’s award was in recognition of his “outstanding and enduring contributions to Internet journalism through insightful reporting, informed analysis, and storytelling that has documented and advanced Nigeria’s Internet and digital infrastructure ecosystem.”
The recognition underscores the important role of technology journalism in documenting the evolution of Nigeria’s Internet industry, reporting policy developments, highlighting infrastructure challenges and providing informed perspectives on opportunities emerging from the country’s growing digital economy.
Through his years of technology reporting and publishing, Ukodie has covered developments in telecommunications, Internet infrastructure, broadband connectivity, digital inclusion, information technology and the broader ICT industry.
His recognition also highlights the relationship between the media and the technology ecosystem, particularly the importance of specialised journalism in creating public awareness, promoting accountability and preserving the history of technological development.
Celebrating Two Decades of Internet Development
The IXPN@20 celebration marked an important milestone in Nigeria’s Internet development journey.
Established in 2006, the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria provides a neutral platform that enables Internet Service Providers (ISPs), telecommunications operators, content providers and data centre operators to exchange Internet traffic locally.
By facilitating local interconnection, IXPN helps reduce the need for domestic Internet traffic to travel through international routes before reaching its Nigerian destination. This contributes to improved network efficiency, reduced latency, better connectivity and more efficient utilisation of available Internet infrastructure.
Over the past 20 years, the organisation has evolved into an important component of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, supporting the growth of local Internet services and strengthening collaboration among key players in the telecommunications and technology sectors.
The anniversary provided an opportunity to celebrate the organisation’s achievements and recognise the people, partnerships and institutions that contributed to the development of the country’s Internet ecosystem.
The anniversary programme also featured initiatives focused on technical capacity development, youth participation, women’s inclusion in Internet infrastructure, industry collaboration and the preservation of Nigeria’s Internet history.
Activities included the Nigeria Peering and Interconnection Forum, an IPv6 capacity-building programme and the Women in Internet Infrastructure Forum.
The anniversary gala dinner provided an opportunity for industry stakeholders to reflect on the achievements of the past two decades while considering the infrastructure, skills and partnerships required to sustain Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Looking Ahead
As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to expand, the importance of reliable Internet infrastructure, local content delivery, data centres, broadband connectivity and efficient network interconnection is becoming increasingly significant.
The growing adoption of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, financial technology, digital commerce and streaming services will place greater demands on the country’s Internet infrastructure.
Consequently, stronger collaboration among network operators, regulators, government institutions, technology companies, data centre providers and other stakeholders will remain essential to building a resilient and sustainable digital ecosystem.
The IXPN@20 awards therefore represented more than a celebration of institutional longevity. They also served as recognition of the individuals and organisations whose vision, commitment, expertise and professional contributions have helped build the foundations of Nigeria’s Internet industry.
Aaron Ukodie, is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of eWorldNews. ICT Journalist since 1985.
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