The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the rollout of the upgraded Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) and its integration with the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) platform to strengthen digital connectivity, research collaboration, and innovation in Nigeria’s tertiary education system. Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Education, Chief Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa FAMedS, CON, described the NgREN–TERAS integration as a major milestone in the Ministry’s drive to modernize learning and research through technology, data, and institutional collaboration.
Dr. Alausa explained that the renewed NgREN will serve as a high-speed national education network linking universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and research institutions on a shared platform that supports e-learning, cloud computing, and research services. He said the network represents a critical part of the Ministry’s vision for a technology-driven education sector where institutions can collaborate, share data, and access advanced learning tools. The Minister reaffirmed that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for a knowledge-based economy built on innovation, transparency, and digital inclusion.
He further noted that the integration of NgREN with the TERAS platform would create a unified digital ecosystem that connects institutions to research resources, online learning platforms, plagiarism detection systems, high-performance computing, and institutional analytics. The Honourable Minister commended the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for their leadership in driving this reform, emphasizing that the collaboration will make digital infrastructure the backbone of Nigeria’s tertiary education system and ensure cost-effective access to high-quality educational services.
Dr. Alausa added that the upgraded network, supported by the World Bank through the SPESSE and ACE Impact projects, provides modern facilities such as cloud data centers, e-libraries, and campus-wide Wi-Fi services. He assured that the Ministry remains committed to sustaining these initiatives through partnerships, innovation, and continuous investment in digital learning environments to make Nigeria’s tertiary education system globally competitive.
In his presentation, Dr. Joshua Attah of the National Universities Commission (NUC) gave an overview of the evolution of the Nigerian Research and Education Network and its integration with the TERAS platform. He explained that the NgREN is not just an Internet Service Provider but a collaborative platform that interconnects universities and research institutions to enable shared digital services and global linkages. Dr. Attah highlighted that the ongoing review, directed by the Honourable Minister, focuses on expanding connectivity, improving reliability, and creating a sustainable governance framework that supports e-learning, data analytics, and research-driven innovation.
Mr. Joseph Odo of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) presented the TETFund–TERAS convergence services, which aim to expand access to research, digital learning, and institutional resources for staff and students across tertiary institutions. He outlined a wide range of digital services provided through TERAS, including a federated academic repository, EagleScan plagiarism checker, online learning platforms, digital literacy programs, and access to academic journals and databases. Mr. Odo explained that the integration with NgREN will ensure improved bandwidth, connectivity, and access to digital tools through a unified gateway. He also announced that the pilot phase of the integration will begin in 2025 with selected universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education from all geopolitical zones.
The launch of the NgREN–TERAS integration marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital education transformation. With this initiative, the Federal Ministry of Education is setting a new standard for digital access, collaboration, and innovation across the tertiary education landscape, laying a solid foundation for research excellence, national development, and global competitiveness.
Signed
Boriowo Folasade
Director Press and PR
