Nii Narku Quaynor: Africa’s father of the internet

— Individual Recipient of the 2024 World Internet Conference Distinguished Contribution Award

Nii Narku Quaynor

Nii Narku Quaynor, known as the "Africa's father of the internet" and chairman of Network Computer Systems Ltd. (NCS) in Ghana, said he was honored and surprised to recieve the 2024 World Internet Conference Distinguished Contribution Award. "I think it will have a positive effect on the Global South," he said, "It recognizes their contributions and encourages them to focus on working for the Internet and being selfless in the act of doing that."

In 1993, Quaynor led the registration of Ghana's first Network Computer Systems, becoming the first Internet service provider in West Africa. He was the first African to be elected to the board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and has been instrumental in the establishment of several key organizations, including the African Network Information Centre (AfriNIC), advancing digital connectivity and global cooperation across the continent.

Speaking on the theme of the 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit —"Embracing a People-Centered and AI-for-Good Digital Future - Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace," Quaynor emphasized the importance of using technology responsibly. "people-centered" and "AI-for-Good" are vital themes, because they help ensure we use AI for the right purpose, he said. "I think all the topics are important, but cyber security and AI even more so because AI brings additional challenges in cyber security, which needs to be addressed together with the AI," he added. "I'm really fine with where we are except we need to do a lot more, and we can do many of them through cooperation." 

At previous WIC Wuzhen Summits, Quaynor has consistently stressed the central role of collaboration in Internet development. He believes that a sustainable digital future hinges on building a community with a common vision and a shared future. "The internet must have all of us participating in a comfortable and happy way," he noted, "Form that point of view, I'm looking forward to more international cooperation and I think the WIC is in the right direction."

Quaynor sees the WIC as a valuable platform for promoting an inclusive and equitable digital landscape, particularly for Africa and other technologically underdeveloped regions. The conference, he said, helps bridge gaps in AI capacity building, digital infrastructure, and economic accessibility, ensuring that the emerging AI-powered world remains diverse and inclusive.

At the inaugural ceremony of the WIC in July 2022, Quaynor spoke via video of Africa's strong desire to collaborate and participate more deeply in the WIC, which he called one of the most influential global platforms in the global internet community.

The World Internet Conference launched its Distinguished Contribution Award in 2024 to recognize individuals and enterprises that have made outstanding contributions to the global internet sector. The first award ceremony was held at last year's Wuzhen Summit, where seven global leaders and 14 renowned companies were honored.