Nigerian higher education institutions have reached a significant milestone in global digital trust identity infrastructure with the admission of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) into the Education Global Authentication Infrastructure (eduGAIN).
This announcement was made by NgREN on Tuesday following the signing of the declaration of membership by its Managing Director, Dr. Joshua Atah.
The eduGAIN inter-federation service connects identity federations globally, streamlining access to content, services, and resources for the global research and education community.
With participation from over 100 countries and more than 10,000 Identity and Service Providers, eduGAIN is a pivotal platform in academic collaboration.
In a statement, Dr. Atah indicated that this achievement will greatly benefit Nigerian institutions by enhancing collaboration opportunities, providing secure access to international scholarly resources, and improving trust frameworks for digital services within the global academic community.
He noted that this positions Nigeria’s higher education sector firmly on the global stage, allowing institutions to access a wide array of international resources and services.
The approval for membership followed a rigorous assessment and voting process conducted by the eduGAIN Assembly. Operating under the auspices of GÉANT, eduGAIN facilitates secure, trusted, and seamless access to online research and education services across borders.
Membership allows Nigerian universities and research institutions federated under NgREN to participate fully in the global inter-federation ecosystem.
Dr. Atah expressed sincere gratitude to the eduGAIN Chair, Steering Committee, and Assembly Members for their diligence in assessing and approving the federation’s application.
He stated, “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.”
NgREN is dedicated to providing advanced ICT infrastructure, identity federation services, and collaborative platforms for universities and research institutions in Nigeria.
By ensuring reliable connectivity, cloud hosting, and digital identity services, NgREN is empowering educational and research institutions to operate at the forefront of knowledge and innovation, translating their research into real-world impact.
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