ABU professor Adewale Adedokun emerges AFRINIC board chairman

The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) has appointed Adewale Adedokun, a professor of computer engineering in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), as chairman of its board of directors.

The AFRINIC also named Aziz Hilali as its vice-chairman in a statement issued on Friday.

The new leadership, AFRINIC said, marks a fresh phase of stability and strategic focus for the body, which manages internet number resources across Africa.

The centre said the new chairman and vice-chairman are tasked with guiding the organisation toward a future defined by robust governance, operational excellence, and cohesive community engagement.

AFRINIC is one of the world’s five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) responsible for allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and Autonomous System numbers within its service region.

Adedokun, who was elected to the board on September 12, is the director of the Iya Abubakar Institute of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at ABU. He brings decades of academic, technical and leadership experience to the role.

Reacting to his appointment, Adedokun said the new board would prioritise renewal, unity and transparency after what he described as “a period of challenge” for AFRINIC.

“The AFRINIC community has spoken clearly, electing a board with a mandate for renewal and unity,” Adedokun  said.

“Our focus is to restore confidence and ensure stability so AFRINIC can continue its critical mission without distraction.”

On his part, Hilali said a stable AFRINIC is key to a stable Internet ecosystem across the continent.

“We will work diligently to ensure the organisation operates with transparency and efficiency, focusing on its core duty — the equitable distribution of Internet number resources that power Africa’s digital economy,” Hilali said.

Other members of the new board include Kaleem Ahmed Usmani, Kayemba Laurent Ntumba (Central Africa), Carla Sanderson (Southern Africa), Fiona Asonga (Eastern Africa), Benjamin Mark Roberts and Ajao Adewole David as non-regional members.

Adedokun will represent Western Africa while Hilali represents Northern Africa.