News • News 2025

Empowering Digital Identity: Identity Federation training in Nigeria

Participants attending the training at NgREN

This article was first published on NgREN’s website.

In a major step towards digital transformation in Nigeria’s research and education sector, the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) is currently undergoing an intensive Federated Identity Training Program. This transformative initiative—running from 7 April to 16 May 2025—is facilitated by GÉANT and the AfricaConnect3 Project, co-funded by the European Union.

A Strategic Move for Nigeria’s Digital Future

The training was specifically designed to:

  • Equip NgREN staff with the knowledge and skills to deploy a national identity federation system.

  • Position Nigeria to become an active participant in eduGAIN, a global interfederation service that connects research and education institutions worldwide.

By implementing identity federations and integrating with eduGAIN, academic institutions in Nigeria will benefit from:

  • Secure and seamless access to global digital resources.

  • Enhanced cross-border academic collaboration.

  • Improved user management and digital identity assurance.

Global Expertise at Work

The program featured internationally renowned instructors who shared both technical expertise and practical experience:

  • Mario Reale (GÉANT, The Netherlands): Delivered strategic guidance on using identity federations to enhance research collaboration.

  • Marco Malavolti (GARR/IDEM, Italy): Provided technical deep dives on federation architecture, including SAML, Shibboleth, and OpenLDAP.

  • Andrijana Todosijevic (AMRES, Serbia): Highlighted effective management strategies for federations and user support.

  • Katarina Simonovic (AMRES, Serbia): Demonstrated practical tools and user-friendly implementations of federated identity services.

Training Coverage

The sessions addressed real-world challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s academic institutions, covering:

  • Fundamentals of Identity Federation

  • Federation Infrastructure Setup

  • eduGAIN Membership and Integration

  • Identity Provider (IdP) and Service Provider (SP) Configurations

  • Security and Privacy Best Practices

This training aligns NgREN with global research identity standards, enhancing the digital landscape for researchers, faculty, and students across Nigeria.

A Model for Regional Advancement

This collaborative effort between GEANT, AfricaConnect3, and NgREN underscores the importance of international partnerships in developing robust digital infrastructure across Africa. As more African NRENs undertake similar initiatives, the continent is poised for deeper inclusion in global research networks—enabling innovation, discovery, and educational excellence.

More info about eduGAIN can be found at edugain.org

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