Nii Narku Quaynor (born 1945) is a Ghanaian scientist and engineer who has played an important role in the introduction and development of the Internet throughout Africa.[1]
Nii Narku Quaynor | |
|---|---|
 Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor | |
| Born | Nii Narku Quaynor |
| Occupation | Computer Scientist |
| Known for | Developing telecommunications and Internet in Africa |
| Title | Professor |
Biography
editQuaynor graduated in engineering science from Dartmouth College in 1972, and received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Thayer School of Engineering in 1973. He then studied Computer Science, obtaining an M.S. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1974, and a Ph.D. from the same institution in 1977. He attended the Kinbu Secondary Technical School, Adisadel College and Achimota School in Ghana.[1]
He is one of the founding members of the Computer Science Department at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, and continues to hold a professorship there.[2] He is also a member of the Council of the University of Ghana.
In 2000, he became director of ICANN for the African region.
Work with telecommunications and the Internet
editOn Quaynor's return to Ghana from the United States in the early 1990s, he established some of Africa's first Internet connections and was involved in setting up some key organisations, including the African Network Operators Group (AfNOG).[3] He introduced Value Added Networks in the region through the introduction of the SWIFT, Internet and Commerce networks, and was founding chairman of AfriNIC, the African numbers registry.
Quaynor is the Chairman of the Ghanaian company Network Computer Systems, and a member of the United Nations Secretary General Advisory Group on ICT, member of the ITU Telecom Board, chair and of the OAU Internet Task Force, President of the Internet Society of Ghana, and member of the Worldbank Infodev TAP.
Quaynor also serves as a Commissioner for the Global Commission on Internet Governance.[4]
Awards and recognition
editHe was awarded the 2015 ICANN Multi-stakeholder Ethos Award together with Cheryl Langdon Orr[5] Also on 26 June 2013, he was selected for induction into the Internet Hall of Fame by the Internet Society.[6] In December 2007, Quaynor was awarded the Jonathan B. Postel Service Award from the IETF (The Internet Engineering Task Force).[7]
References
edit- ^ a b magazineafrique (2023-05-10). "Nii Narku Quaynor: A Pioneer of the Internet in Africa". Magazine Afrique. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
- ^ "Prof Nii Quaynor biography". Archived from the original on 2007-12-23. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
- ^ ""Dr. Nii Quaynor Receives 2007 Jonathan B. Postel Service Award"". Archived from the original on 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
- ^ Commissioners Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine, Global Commission on Internet Governance.
- ^ "Prof. Nii Quaynor wins prestigious ICANN award". www.myjoyonline.com. Myjoyonline. Archived from the original on 2015-07-31. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "Internet Hall of Fame Announces 2013 Inductees". Internet Hall of Fame. Internet Society. 26 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-06-30. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ^ "Nii Quaynor Awarded Postel Award 2007 | ICANN congratulates former board member on honor" Archived 2007-12-14 at the Wayback Machine, ICANN, 11 December 2007.