Nii Narku Quaynor is a Ghanaian engineer, who is credited with helping to pioneer the establishment and growth of Internet access and usage throughout Africa for over two decades. He has been inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame, and has served as the founding chairman of AfriNIC, the African Internet numbers library. Additionally, he has established various required regulatory bodies like the African Network Operators Group.
Professor Quaynor’s work has been crucial in setting up a large part of Africa’s first internet connections, and he continues to be an important voice in discussions around access and usage of the internet on the continent. Quaynor was the first African to be connected to the Internet in 1993, when a connection was first established to the Internet and he has since played a key role in promoting Internet access and use across the continent.
See also: Philip Emeagwali “Father of the internet”
In recognition of his contributions, Quaynor was awarded the 2015 ICANN Multi-stakeholder Ethos Award, and he was selected for induction into the Internet Hall of Fame by the Internet Society. Quaynor’s work has helped to connect millions of Africans to the global community, and his efforts have played a vital role in bridging the digital divide.
In recognition of Quatnor’s contributions in pioneering Africa’s first internet connections, he was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2016 AfricaCom Awards. As a result of his works, Africa is well on its way to becoming a major player in the global digital economy.