Nigeria needs stronger collaboration among government agencies, technology companies, civil society organisations, academics and technical experts to shape internet governance policies that reflect the country’s digital realities, Mrs Mary Uduma, Director of Digital Solutions Limited, West Africa, has said.

Uduma made the call during her presentation at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Internet Governance Symposium 2026, where she examined how Nigeria can translate global internet governance principles into policies that address local challenges and priorities.

Emphasising the need for a locally responsive approach, Uduma’s says that the internet is inherently global, but its impacts and governance require local consideration.

“The internet is inherently global,” she says, adding that “Its impacts, challenges, and governance must be local.”

“The internet is inherently global,” she says, adding that “Its impacts, challenges, and governance must be local.”

She highlighted the importance of a multi-stakeholder model that brings together government, civil society, academia, the technical community, private sector operators and international organisations to address the increasingly complex challenges associated with the internet.

The approach recognises that internet governance extends beyond technical infrastructure to include public policy, commercial interests, human rights, cybersecurity and national sovereignty.

Uduma’s also called for deeper collaboration across sectors to ensure Nigeria contributes to shaping international internet policies rather than merely adopting decisions made elsewhere.

The presentation’s concluding message urged stakeholders to work together to ensure Nigeria “shapes-rather than just consumes-future global internet policies.”

Nigeria’s place in global internet governance

She traced the evolution of internet governance from a decentralised technical coordination model managed largely by academics and engineers to a complex global system involving governments, private companies, civil society and international institutions.

The presentation identified the creation of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in 1998 as a significant milestone in the institutional development of internet governance.

It explained that the system has evolved to balance technical management with state sovereignty, corporate power and human rights.

According to the presentation, internet governance operates through a multi-stakeholder framework involving different groups participating in policy discussions on an equal footing.

“The equal footing nature of the Internet stakeholder groups” was identified as a central principle of the model, with the groups including government, civil society, academia, the technical community, private sector operators, intergovernmental organisations and multilateral organisations.

The presentation also highlighted the development of internet governance forums at global, continental, regional and national levels, including the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF), Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF), West Africa Internet Governance Forum (WAIGF) and Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF).

These platforms provide opportunities for stakeholders to exchange perspectives and discuss policies affecting internet access, security, emerging technologies and digital rights.

AI, cybersecurity and data governance

Uduma identified artificial intelligence (AI), cross-border data flows, cybersecurity resilience and digital trust among the emerging priorities shaping internet governance.

Her presentation highlighted the need to address these issues alongside persistent challenges involving universal internet access, affordability, meaningful connectivity and digital literacy.

It also pointed to the importance of youth and women’s inclusion in digital policymaking, as well as responsible AI development and stronger international cooperation.

The presentation examined the World Summit on the Information Society’s 20-year review, known as WSIS+20, which assessed progress under the global information society framework and considered updated commitments for digital and internet governance.

Among the priorities identified were strengthening the multi-stakeholder model, bridging digital divides, addressing emerging technologies and reinforcing human rights, trust and security online.

For Nigeria, these priorities require cooperation between policymakers, regulators, technology providers and other stakeholders to ensure that global principles are translated into practical measures suited to local conditions.

Internet regulation and consumer protection

She also discussed the role of domestic regulation in addressing emerging challenges associated with digital platforms and internet-based services.

It referenced the NCC’s Internet Code of Practice 2026, identifying transactional data management, data breach and cybersecurity notifications, child online protection, default settings and AI integration among the areas of regulatory focus.

The presentation stated that the code “extends its regulatory reach to digital platforms, application providers, and other third-party actors operating over telecommunications networks.”

These issues highlight the growing intersection between telecommunications regulation, data protection, cybersecurity and consumer rights as more services are delivered through internet-based platforms.

The presentation also identified a key governance challenge as “Navigating the Risks of ‘Speed vs. Consent’,” pointing to the need to balance the pace of technological development and policymaking with meaningful stakeholder participation.

Effective collaboration, the presentation suggests, is important to ensure that regulatory decisions account for technical realities, consumer interests and the responsibilities of businesses operating in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

Call for stronger local participation

Uduma posited that internet governance requires continuous adaptation, from local communities to regional and global forums. Its key takeaway described effective internet governance as “a moving target that requires continuous adaptation from local communities up to global forums.”

The presentation called for deeper and more active cooperation across sectors to strengthen Nigeria’s participation in international digital policymaking.

As AI, data governance, cybersecurity and digital rights become increasingly prominent in global discussions, the challenge for Nigeria is to build a framework that supports innovation, protects internet users and ensures that the country’s interests are represented in decisions shaping the future of the internet.