Nii Narku Quaynor, often hailed as the “father of the Internet in Africa,” is a Ghanaian scientist and engineer instrumental in pioneering Internet development across the continent. Born in 1945, he earned a BA in Engineering Science from Dartmouth College in 1972 and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1977.
In 1993, Dr. Quaynor returned to Ghana and established Network Computer Systems, the country’s first Internet service provider, marking a significant milestone in West Africa’s digital landscape. He also founded the Computer Science Department at the University of Cape Coast in 1979, where he continues to serve as a professor.
Dr. Quaynor’s leadership extended to the broader African Internet community. He was the founding chairman of AfriNIC, the African Internet numbers registry, and played a pivotal role in establishing the African Network Operators Group (AfNOG), fostering collaboration among network operators across the continent.
His contributions have been recognized globally. In 2007, he received the Jonathan B. Postel Service Award for his pioneering work in advancing the Internet in Africa, and in 2013, he was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame.
Beyond his technical achievements, Dr. Quaynor has been a member of several influential bodies, including the United Nations Secretary General Advisory Group on ICT and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) board, where he served as the first African member from 2000 to 2003.
Dr. Quaynor’s enduring commitment to education, policy, and infrastructure development has been instrumental in shaping Africa’s digital evolution.
