ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria has taken a decisive step onto the global academic technology stage, as its national research and education network secures admission into one of the world’s most powerful digital trust systems, unlocking seamless international access for universities and researchers.
The Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) has been formally admitted into the Education Global Authentication Infrastructure (eduGAIN), a worldwide identity federation that enables secure access to research platforms, digital libraries and academic services across borders.
The development was confirmed on Tuesday after NgREN’s Managing Director, Joshua Atah, signed the declaration of membership, following approval by the eduGAIN Assembly after a rigorous assessment and voting process.
eduGAIN connects identity federations in more than 100 countries and links over 10,000 identity and service providers globally, making it a central pillar of international academic collaboration.
“This milestone significantly enhances collaboration opportunities for Nigerian institutions,” Dr Atah said in a statement on Wednesday. “It strengthens digital trust, enables secure access to international scholarly resources, and firmly positions Nigeria’s higher education sector on the global stage.”
Operating under the auspices of GÉANT, eduGAIN provides a trusted framework that allows students, researchers, and faculty to use a single digital identity to access services worldwide. With the new membership, Nigerian universities and research institutes federated under NgREN can now participate fully in this global inter-federation ecosystem.
NgREN expressed appreciation to the eduGAIN Chair, Steering Committee, and Assembly members for approving Nigeria’s entry, noting that the move aligns with broader efforts to modernise research infrastructure and boost innovation.
“As Nigeria’s National Research and Education Network, NgREN remains committed to strengthening secure federated access and supporting innovation across the higher education and research ecosystem,” Dr Atah said.
NgREN provides advanced ICT infrastructure, identity Federation’s services, and collaborative platforms for tertiary institutions nationwide, supporting research, teaching and knowledge exchange. Officials say the admission into eduGAIN will accelerate Nigeria’s integration into global research networks and improve the country’s competitiveness in science, technology, and innovation.
Plateau News Online 