Nigerian higher education institutions have secured a significant milestone in global digital trust infrastructure following the admission of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) into the Education Global Authentication Infrastructure (eduGAIN).
NgREN announced the development on Tuesday after its Managing Director, Dr Joshua Atah, formally signed the declaration of membership, marking Nigeria’s entry into the global inter-federation ecosystem for research and education.
This was contained in a statement, personally signed by the MD of NgREN.
eduGAIN is an international inter-federation service that connects identity federations worldwide, enabling seamless and secure access to online academic content, services and research resources. The platform comprises participants from over 100 countries and more than 10,000 Identity and Service Providers.
According to Dr Atah, the admission represents a major breakthrough for Nigeria’s higher education system, opening up expanded opportunities for collaboration and strengthening digital trust frameworks with global academic partners.
He said the development firmly positions Nigeria on the global academic map, granting universities and research institutions broader and more secure access to international services and resources.
The statement noted that NgREN’s admission followed a rigorous assessment and voting process conducted by the eduGAIN Assembly.
Operating under the auspices of GÉANT, eduGAIN facilitates trusted cross-border access to research and education services by linking identity federations across the world. With the new membership, Nigerian universities and research institutions connected to NgREN can now fully participate in the global digital authentication network.
Dr Atah expressed appreciation to the eduGAIN Chair, Steering Committee and Assembly Members for their diligence in evaluating and approving Nigeria’s application.
“As Nigeria’s National Research and Education Network, NgREN remains committed to strengthening digital trust identity, enabling secure federated access, and supporting innovation across the higher education and research ecosystem,” he said.
NgREN serves as Nigeria’s national research and education network, providing advanced ICT infrastructure, identity federation services and collaborative platforms to universities and research institutions nationwide.
Through reliable connectivity, cloud hosting and digital identity services, the network supports institutions in advancing research, innovation and real-world impact.