Nominations Open for Dr. Tarek Kamel Award: Recognizing Internet Visionaries in Capacity Building.

Today, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced the opening of the nomination period for the prestigious Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building. Community members now have one month to submit nominations for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to developing expertise and participation within the global Internet ecosystem.

Honoring a Legacy of Internet Leadership

Established in January 2020, the Dr. Tarek Kamel Award serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of the late Dr. Tarek Kamel. An acclaimed Internet pioneer, Dr. Kamel was widely recognized for his profound impact on global Internet governance. At the time of his passing, he held the esteemed positions of Senior Advisor to the President and Senior Vice President for Government and Intergovernmental Organization Engagement at ICANN. This annual award celebrates individuals who embody Dr. Kamel’s spirit of dedication and his commitment to fostering growth and skill development in areas central to ICANN’s mission.

Who Can Be Nominated?

The Dr. Tarek Kamel Award is conferred annually on one deserving individual during ICANN’s Annual General Meeting. The selection committee seeks candidates who demonstrate a minimum of five years of significant engagement in:

• Substantial contributions to national, regional, or global capacity-development programs directly related to ICANN’s core mission.
• Developing impactful capacity-building initiatives that have positively influenced the multistakeholder model and actively diversified participation within the ICANN community.

Nomination Process and Key Details

ICANN encourages all eligible community members and groups to participate in the nomination process. This includes Supporting Organizations, Advisory Committees, and constituent groups within ICANN.

To ensure a comprehensive evaluation, nominations must:

• Be submitted exclusively via the official nomination form.
• Include detailed information and supporting documentation clearly demonstrating how the nominee fulfills the award criteria.
• Please note that self-nominations are not permitted.

The ICANN Board of Directors holds the responsibility for evaluating a shortlist of highly qualified candidates and making the final determination for this year’s recipient.

The nomination period closes on 31 July 2025 at 23:59 UTC. For any additional supporting information or questions regarding the award process, please direct inquiries to kamelaward@icann.org.

The recipient of the Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building will be publicly announced at ICANN84 in October 2025.

For more comprehensive details about the award and its criteria, please visit the official Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building webpage.

About Author

Dr. Adebunmi Adeola Akinbo

Dr. Adebunmi Akinbo is a Researcher, Media Psychologist, Brand and Content Expert. He is an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Fellow, Member of Association of Cyber Forensics and Threat Investigators (ACFTI), Associate Member of the Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), and a Senior Member of Chartered Institute of Public Diplomacy & Management (CIPDM), He is passionate for information and solutions for ICT Challenges by the media for the global village.

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