Women Shaping Africa’s DNS Industry: Equity in ccTLD Operations

Published by: Lyon Odhiambo.

The African Internet scene has seen rapid growth, and this change has not gone unnoticed in the Domain Name System (DNS) industry, especially in country code top-level domain (ccTLD) operations. While men have traditionally dominated it, an increasing number of women have stepped forward as impactful leaders and change-makers.

At the heart of every country’s digital footprint lies a country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD), a digital identifier representing national pride, governance, and innovation. In Africa, women are increasingly stepping into leadership, technical, and policy-making roles within ccTLD operations across the continent.

These women stand out as trailblazers in Africa’s ccTLD industry, and in this blog, we highlight just a few of them. Their stories reflect the real progress being made toward gender equity in the internet ecosystem. Each one is leaving a distinct mark, not only through their technical expertise and leadership but by creating space and opportunity for more women to participate and lead in African internet governance.

Eyitayo Iyortim- Chair of the Executive Committee and President- AfTLD.

Eyitayo Iyortim is the Chairperson of the Executive Committee and President of the Africa Top Level Domains Organization (AfTLD), representing Nigeria’s .ng ccTLD. Formerly the COO of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), she plays a key role in coordinating African ccTLDs and contributing to global Internet governance through ICANN and the Internet Governance Forum.

She actively serves on the ICANN Nominating Committee and champions gender inclusion, talent development, and organizational growth within the domain name ecosystem. Beyond her registry work, Eyitayo is a Managing Partner at Talent Urbanity Limited, mentors women through Bible study programs, and supports startups as an organizational therapist.

Why She Matters:

• Trailblazer: One of the few women leading a continental ccTLD body, advancing gender equity.
• Bridge-builder: Combines expertise in psychology and HR to encourage inclusive, collaborative leadership.
• Change-maker: From modernizing .ng to shaping ccTLD policy across Africa, her impact is international.

Grace Ingabire- CEO Rwanda Internet Community and Technology Alliance(RICTA)

Grace Ingabire is the CEO of the Rwanda Internet Community and Technology Alliance (RICTA), which manages Rwanda’s .rw ccTLD and the Rwanda Internet Exchange Point (RINEX). She also serves as a Director on the AfTLD Executive Committee, contributing to the growth and coordination of African ccTLDs.

Under her leadership, RICTA has enhanced domain name operations, expanded local internet infrastructure, and championed initiatives like the Rwanda Network Operators Group (RWNOG) in collaboration with ISOC and MANRS to strengthen technical capacity in the region.

Why She Matters

• Tech Leader: Oversees secure and efficient .rw domain operations.
• Infrastructure Advocate: Expands local content exchange in Rwanda through RINEX.
• Capacity Builder: Promotes skills development and internet resilience in Rwanda and beyond.

Ms. Ingabire is a driving force behind Rwanda’s digital growth, bridging policy, infrastructure, and talent development to shape a robust and inclusive internet ecosystem.

Wafa Dahmani: Stakeholder Development Liaison- AFRINIC.

Wafa Dahmani is the Stakeholder Development Liaison at AFRINIC, where she supports Internet number resource distribution and community engagement across Africa.

Previously, she served as CTO of Tunisia’s National Cybersecurity Agency (2020–2022) and led technical operations at ATI, Tunisia’s .tn registry, where she implemented DNSSEC, IPv6 migration strategies, and anycast infrastructure. She also acted as IANA Administrative Contact for .تونس.

In Internet governance, Wafa has been an ALAC member representing Africa and MENA at ICANN, chaired AFRINIC’s Governance Committee, served on ASO-AC, the IGF MAG, and multiple ccNSO working groups and is currently a ccNSO Council Member. She’s also active in the ISOC Tunisia chapter and a strong voice for DNS/IPv6 awareness and internet resilience across the region.

Why She Matters

• Tech-Policy Bridge: Connects deep technical knowledge with high-level governance roles
• Infrastructure Advocate: Leads DNS security, IPv6 adoption, and cybersecurity capacity
• Inclusive Leader: Champions digital inclusion through training and policy engagement across MENA and Africa

Meriem Slimani- Standardization & Development Coordinator, ATU.

Since 2015, Meriem Slimani has served as the Standardization and Development Coordinator at the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), where she leads initiatives on cybersecurity, ICT consumer protection, and IPv6 deployment across Africa.

She has:

Presented Africa’s cybersecurity priorities at ITU–ATU workshops, pushing for stronger stakeholder collaboration.
Advocated for ICT consumer rights, including access, affordability, and service quality.
Co-drafted ITU Resolution 63 (Kigali 2022) with AFRINIC, aiming for widespread IPv6 adoption by 2026.
Helped coordinate Africa’s input to ITU Plenipotentiary 2026, shaping policy priorities in digital regulation.

With a background in engineering and over 15 years’ experience in telecoms and policy, Slimani previously worked at Algeria Telecom and the national Ministry of ICT.

Why She Matters

• Policy Shaper: Crafts standardization strategies for Africa’s digital future.
• Consumer-Centric Advocate: Ensures inclusive, rights-based ICT policies.
• Infrastructure Champion: Leads efforts toward IPv6 readiness and internet resilience.

Anne-Rachel Inné- Director General- National Agency for the Information Society (ANSI) Niger.

Anne-Rachel Inné is the Director-General of Niger’s National Agency for the Information Society (ANSI), where she leads national efforts to expand digital infrastructure, promote innovation, and ensure inclusive digital access.

She brings over two decades of global experience, having served in senior roles at: ICANN as VP for Global Engagement and Africa Regional Manager, AFRINIC as Chief Operating Officer, ITU as Regional Director for Africa, ARIN as Executive Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy.  She is also the founder of Africa Ultimate Expertise (AUE), a consultancy advancing digital transformation across Africa.

Anne-Rachel has championed initiatives in rural internet access, IDN deployment, and inclusive internet governance. Her work continues to center on empowering women, youth, and underserved communities.

Why She Matters

• Visionary Leader – Shapes Niger’s digital future with deep global and regional insight
• Strategic Connector – Links global internet bodies with African policy and infrastructure needs
• Inclusion Advocate – A long-standing voice for equitable digital access and gender equity in tech.

Conclusion

In conclusion, women’s leadership in Africa’s DNS and ccTLD ecosystem is no longer the exception; it’s a growing force for change. From technical administration to policy influence, the women featured in this piece have demonstrated that inclusion leads to innovation, resilience, and stronger digital communities. Their journeys prove that when purpose meets opportunity, barriers fall and the next generation rises.

It is essential to recognise that the path to full gender equity necessitates ongoing investment in education, rigorous enforcement of inclusive policies, and sustained mentorship to ensure that more women not only enter the space but also thrive and lead in it.

Importantly, there are many more women across the continent, engineers, policymakers, cybersecurity experts, registry managers, among others, who are making remarkable contributions to Africa’s internet infrastructure. Their work, often under-acknowledged, deserves recognition and celebration.

Africa’s digital future is brighter when it is shaped by all voices. The more we spotlight and support women in this field, the closer we move toward a truly inclusive, secure, and innovative internet for the continent.