The newly reconstituted Board of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) has outlined a renewed strategic direction to strengthen digital infrastructure across Nigeria’s education and research sectors. Meeting for the first time as the new Board during its 12th session at the NgREN Secretariat within the National Universities Commission (NUC), members focused on governance reforms, institutional sustainability, and priorities for 2026. Opening the meeting, Board Chairman and Chancellor of the Athena Centre, Honourable Osita Chidoka, highlighted the significant changes in Nigeria’s digital education landscape since the Board last met in 2022. He stressed the need for a coordinated, forward-looking strategy to ensure NgREN remains at the heart of the country’s digital transformation in higher education and research. A key outcome of the meeting was the Board’s review of NgREN and the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) platform. While recognising the distinct roles of both initiatives, the Board identified service overlaps and called for the harmonisation and optimisation of existing infrastructure rather than new investments. The goal is to create a unified, efficient platform by consolidating services, mapping existing infrastructure, and eliminating duplication. The Board also acknowledged ongoing assessments of universities’ readiness to connect to NgREN and welcomed the Federal Ministry of Education’s Technical Advisory Committee on the NgREN-TERAS integration, established to guide the initiative. To strengthen connectivity, the Board reviewed discussions with Galaxy Backbone Ltd on leasing fibre capacity and establishing peering arrangements, particularly in Lagos, to improve last-mile access for universities. It further underscored the importance of collaboration with key government agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), Galaxy Backbone Ltd, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), to support the Network’s restructuring and expansion. With a renewed vision and clear strategic priorities, the Board has set NgREN on a path toward becoming a more integrated, resilient, and sustainable digital platform, strengthening research, innovation, and digital learning across Nigeria’s education sector.
