Prof Quaynor recognised for devotion to Internet in Africa
Professor Nii Narku Quaynor, Chair of the Internet Society (ISOC) Ghana Chapter and Africa Internet pioneer has been awarded the 2015 ICANN Multi-stakeholder Ethos Award during the opening ceremony of ICANN 53 in Buenos Aires.
A statement signed by Vera Akumiah, ISOC Programmes and Communications Chair, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said, Prof Quaynor was recognised for his historical and current role in ICANN and the global Internet community.
It noted that Prof Quaynor was instrumental in establishing AFRINIC and AFNOG in Africa, and had been referred to ‘as the father of the Internet in Africa’ for his unwavering commitment over the past two decades in pioneering Internet development and expansion on the continent.
“To me, this is a testimony that ICANN in its own way is international and open… someone from the developing world can contribute and be recognized by his peers in ICANN,” said Quaynor.
In 2007 Prof Quaynor was awarded the prestigious Jon Postel Award for contributing towards the development of Internet in Africa and in 2013 he was inducted into the Internet Hall of fame.
“The ISOC Ghana Chapter congratulates Prof Quaynor for this feat,” said Marcus Adomey, President of ISOC gh Chapter, according to the statement.
The statement said Prof Quaynor was awarded alongside Cheryl Langdon Orr, a community leader, who was based in Australia and had served in numerous GNSO, CCNSO and ALAC Cross community working groups over the years.
It observed that both the award winners met the criteria in such distinctive ways that this year two Awards were given to recognise their outstanding work and commitment to the global Internet community.
It said the Award honoured and recognised members from the global Internet community who had demonstrated an incredible dedication to the multi-stakeholder model of Internet Governance.
The ICANN Multi-stakeholder Ethos award program was created in 2014 to recognize ICANN participants who had deeply invested in consensus-based solutions and the importance of ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model to Internet Governance.
Internet Society Ghana Chapter is a certified chapter of the ISOC, which is a nonprofit organisation founded in 1992, to provide leadership in Internet related standards, education, and policy.
With offices in Washington D.C., USA, and Geneva, Switzerland, it is dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution and use of the Internet for the benefit of people.
Source: GNA