Why I joined AfriNIC – Anne-Rachel Inne

In this special interview with our Group Executive Editor, DigitalSENSE News, Mr. Remmy Nweke, the newly appointed chief operating officer (COO) for the African Network Information Center (AfriNIC), Ms Anne-Rachel Inne, aside from telling us why she is excited to join AfriNIC, also asserted that Africa is ripe for the new Internet.

Ms Anne-Rachel Inne, the new AfriNIC chief operating officer

What does your joining AfriNIC mean to you and what do you think the future holds for AfriNIC?

Well, the chief executive officer (CEO) of African Network Information Center (AfriNIC) approached me and asked me to apply for the open position at the organization some time back. I thought it to be an interesting challenge.

Also, I thought that my experience could help me in the job and coming back to the continent to support the great work that AfriNIC is already doing in Africa, which was a very appealing perspective.

So, joining AfriNIC is simply bringing back home all the ropes I have learned along the way in the Internet world since 1995. I have come full circle and I am happy as well as excited at the challenges ahead.

What is the core role of AfriNIC?

Our core work as the Africa Regional Internet Registry is to ensure a fair distribution and management of Internet number resources in our region. For this job to be well done we need excellent operations at AFRINIC and I am happy to say that the team I have found boasts excellent people; Information Technology (IT), member services and communications will work with me to support and ever-growing membership and requests from our community.

I shall work with them as well as the community to develop, implement, and manage the operational aspects of the annual budget driven by AfriNIC’s strategic objectives.

Any plans for IPv6 penetration on the continent?

Our region has the potential to embrace IPv6 and be at the forefront of all services to the citizens. At AfriNIC, we pledge to spearhead Internet technology and policy development in the African region and the team and I am committed to make that happen.

Lead us further into what is AfriNIC?

AfriNiC is a non-governmental and not-for-profit membership based organisation. Its main role is to serve Africa region as Regional Internet Registry (RIR), and liken to the four other continents which have their own RIR.

The AfriNIC organizational structure is set to encourage a bottom-up self-governance management model where policies and other organisational functions are determined by the community in general and members who elect representatives that seat on the Board of Directors.

Tell us about General Assembly of AfriNIC?

Discussions are conducted through both public meetings and e-mail discussion lists. There are no requirements or pre-requisites for any person or entity to participate. AfriNIC has a General Assembly which meets once a year whereas Public Policy Meetings are organised twice a year, that is, one-back-to-back with the General Assembly.

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