That started in 2007 as a pilot project to identify and reward innovative solutions to community challenges has finally age. The Fund for Internet Research and Education has matured and is now among the prestigious awards and grants programme offering recognition and support to ICT initiatives benefiting grassroots communities.

When Dr Nii Quaynor, a pioneer of African Internet, donated his Jon Postel Awards 2007 cash prize he ignited FIRE. Together with Adiel Akplogan, the founding CEO of AFRINIC, they sowed the seed that has grown to become a successful Fund for Internet research and Education programme

Subsequently donors came in with further support. And now it has grown and started bearing fruits and supporting community initiatives. When SEED Alliance came in in 2011, FIRE started burning brightly and spreading far and wide offering enhanced support and recognition to initiatives with potential to promote change and growth.