Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigerian researchers and universities have secured a major boost in global digital collaboration following the admission of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) into the Education Global Authentication Infrastructure (eduGAIN), a worldwide digital identity trust framework for research and education.
NgREN announced the development on Tuesday after its Managing Director, Joshua Atah, signed the declaration of membership, marking Nigeria’s formal entry into one of the world’s most expansive academic identity federations.
eduGAIN connects identity federations across more than 100 countries, enabling seamless and secure access to online research platforms, digital libraries and academic services. The global system currently links over 10,000 identity and service providers, simplifying cross-border collaboration for scholars, students and institutions.
In a statement on Wednesday, Dr Atah said the admission would significantly enhance Nigerian institutions’ ability to collaborate internationally, access global scholarly resources and operate within trusted digital frameworks.
“This achievement positions Nigeria’s higher education firmly on the global stage,” he said. “It enables our universities and research institutions to access a wide range of international resources and services while strengthening digital trust with the global academic community.”
According to NgREN, the approval followed a rigorous assessment and voting process by the eduGAIN Assembly, underscoring the federation’s compliance with global standards for identity management and digital security.
eduGAIN operates under the auspices of GÉANT, Europe’s research and education networking organisation, and serves as a backbone for trusted digital access across borders. Membership allows Nigerian universities and research institutes federated under NgREN to participate fully in this global inter-federation ecosystem.
Dr Atah expressed appreciation to the eduGAIN Chair, Steering Committee and Assembly members for approving NgREN’s application, reaffirming the network’s commitment to strengthening secure digital access and innovation in Nigeria’s higher education and research sectors.
“As Nigeria’s National Research and Education Network, NgREN remains committed to enabling secure federated access and supporting innovation across the higher education and research ecosystem,” he said.
NgREN provides advanced ICT infrastructure, identity federation services and collaborative platforms for universities and research institutions nationwide. Through reliable connectivity, cloud hosting and digital identity services, the network supports Nigerian institutions to compete at the frontiers of global research and translate academic work into real-world impact.
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Otamere Gladness 
Koko Maxwella 
Korede Abdullah 