TheCable

In partnership with Computer Warehouse Group, Airtel Nigeria will commission the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), the first research and education network in West Africa, on Tuesday.

An initiative of the national universities commission and the committee of vice chancellors of Nigerian universities, NgREN employs information and communication technologies (ICT) to drive inter-institutional communication, collaboration, and shared access to knowledge across national and international boundaries.

According to Erhumu Bayagbon, media relations manager of Airtel Nigeria, the project will be commissioned by Vice President Namadi Sambo, in demonstration of the company’s commitment to empowering Nigerians with the latest mobile Internet and Enterprise Business solutions.

Connecting the 27 older universities in Nigeria with robust internet infrastructure, the project also enjoys the support of the World Bank, as it seeks to create an elaborate infrastructural backbone to interconnect all research and education institutions in the country and link them with other research and education networks worldwide.

Commenting on Airtel’s role in deploying the NgREN, its managing director and chief executive officer, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya expressed delight at the initiative, saying it’s in line with the company’s core corporate philosophy of enriching lives.

“At Airtel Nigeria, we are committed to creating an innovative enterprise business and mobile communications solutions that will enrich lives and empower Nigerians to fulfill their dreams,” he said.

“Airtel will continue to support programmes and initiatives that will deepen learning, research, innovation and digital content in Nigeria.”

He also expressed Airtel’s passion about the development of the education sector in tandem with the company’s major corporate social responsibility agenda.

The project, which is still in its first phase, will have Airtel provide 1Gig and 155mbps from the regional aggregation point to the selected universities in those regions, and 155mbps Duplex Dedicated Internet Service shared centrally by the universities in those regions.