Eko-Konnect

What Eko-Konnect does

Eko-Konnect Research and Education Initiative is a Lagos-based Nigerian nonprofit that operates the country's National Research and Education Network (NREN). Founded in 2018 (originating from the earlier Lagos Higher Education Connectivity Project), it serves universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, research institutes, national libraries, and cultural heritage institutions, providing the digital infrastructure required to participate in global research and education networks. The organization serves as both the national steward for federated identity and persistent identifiers in Nigeria and as a service provider for cloud-hosted open science infrastructure.

Eko-Konnect's core technical portfolio is built on open-source platforms and is organized around three pillars: (1) Persistent Identifiers — DOIs assigned via its DataCite Consortium Lead role (since November 2023), ORCID iDs via its ORCID Consortium Lead role (since December 2024), and DataCite IGSNs for physical artefacts; (2) Federated Identity and Connectivity — eduID.ng identity federation connected to eduID.africa and eduGAIN, and eduroam global Wi-Fi roaming, anchored by its homegrown BonafID platform (co-developed with Datasphir, DAASI International, and Switch) for persistent lifelong educational IDs; and (3) Repository and Learning Services — DSpace and InvenioRDM (led by CERN) for institutional and national repositories, Kotahi (with Coko Foundation) for open access publishing, and Moodle-based hybrid learning integrated with video conferencing. A community cloud (ren.ng) consolidates these services alongside Academic CSIRT cybersecurity and last-mile connectivity partnerships (IXPN, Pan African Towers, Medallion Communications, Galaxy Backbone).

As a nonprofit, Eko-Konnect monetizes primarily through institutional membership fees, fee-based training and consultancy engagements (Moodle administration, e-learning development, digital capabilities), and project grants (ORCID Global Participation Fund, DataCite Global Access Fund, British Council/Jisc Digital University Africa). Its customer base of 24+ community member institutions is concentrated in Nigerian higher education, with growing exposure to government research/cultural agencies (National Library of Nigeria, National Commission of Museums and Monuments). The organization is led by CEO Owen Iyoha and chaired by Prof. Charles Uwadia, with operations anchored at 11B Taiye Olowu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

Name

Eko-Konnect

Legal name

Eko-Konnect Research and Education Initiative

Website

https://eko-konnect.org.ng

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eko-Konnect is a Nigerian nonprofit Research and Education Network providing open science infrastructure—including persistent identifiers, federated identity, repositories, and hybrid learning platforms—to universities, research institutes, libraries, and cultural heritage institutions across Nigeria and West Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Education Networking

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210), Software Publishers (5132), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAEAHAG

Identity, Access Control & Device Authentication Infrastructure (SSO/Directory, NAC)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/IT Infrastructure & AV Classroom Install/Support (Non-EdTech)

SECONDARYEDABAFAG

Networking & Telecommunications (Routing/Switching, Wireless, VoIP)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Technical & IT Skills Training

SECONDARYEDAGANAF

IT, Software & Cybersecurity Training

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Professional Development & Training Materials

Keywords

• Research education networking
• Federated identity management
• Persistent identifier services
• Open science infrastructure
• Digital repository hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Lekki

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Institutional Membership: Institutions register as members of the Eko-Konnect Research and Education Networking community to access services including persistent identifiers, federated identity, repository hosting, and cloud services.
2. Training and Consultancy Services: Fee-based training programs including Moodle Course Development and Administration, e-learning implementation, and capacity building workshops for academic staff.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Eko-Konnect is the Nigerian National Research and Education Network (NREN), providing open-science and digital infrastructure services to Nigerian higher education, research, library, and cultural heritage institutions. Its portfolio centers on Persistent Identifiers (DOI, ORCID, IGSN) administration, federated identity management (eduID.ng, eduroam), institutional and national repository hosting (DSpace, InvenioRDM), open access publishing (Kotahi), cloud hosting, hybrid learning (Moodle + Zoom), BonafID persistent identity, and Academic CSIRT cybersecurity. The organization also delivers fee-based training, consultancy, and student capacity-building programs to its member institutions.

Product overview

Eko-Konnect is a research and education networking organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of open science infrastructure and digital services for Nigerian institutions. The portfolio centers on three core offerings: Persistent Identifiers Services (DOIs through DataCite Consortium Lead role, IGSNs for artefacts, and ORCID researcher IDs through ORCID Consortium Lead role), Federated Identity Management (eduID.ng platform enabling secure institutional authentication and access to global eduGAIN services), and eduroam WiFi roaming. These core services are delivered through a Community-driven National Open Science Cloud that also includes DSpace/InvenioRDM repositories for research data management, Kotahi publishing platform, Moodle-based hybrid learning with video conferencing, BonafID for persistent lifelong identities, and Academic CSIRT cybersecurity services. Additional offerings include cloud hosting, training programs, and student internship opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• eduID.ng: Identity and access federation for the Nigerian research and education community comprising higher education institutions, research institutes, schools and recognized stakeholder organizations.
• BonafID
• eduroam
• LIBSENSE

Products and services

• Persistent Identifiers Services DOI and IGSN (International Generic Sample Numbers) assignment services for Nigerian research outputs and cultural heritage artefacts, delivered via the DataCite Consortium Lead role (effective November 2023), and ORCID iD services for researchers via the ORCID Consortium Lead role (effective December 2024). For Nigerian institutions, libraries, museums, and individual researchers seeking persistent identifiers for research outputs, artefacts, and researcher identity.
• Federated Identity Management (eduID.ng) Secure, privacy-preserving identity and access management federation for Nigerian research and education institutions, connecting member institutions to online services and global eduGAIN federations. For Nigerian universities, polytechnics, research institutes, and stakeholder organizations requiring single sign-on and federated authentication.
• eduroam Wi-Fi Roaming Global secure Wi-Fi roaming service for the research and education community, allowing students, researchers, and staff to access the Internet using their home institution credentials at participating campuses worldwide. For Nigerian universities and research institutes that want to provide roaming network access to their members at participating institutions globally.
• Content and Repository Service (DSpace) DSpace-based institutional and national repository deployment and hosting service for scholarly outputs, museum collections, and cultural heritage digitization. Includes the National Repository of Nigeria deployed on behalf of the National Library of Nigeria and the Lagos Museum collection. For universities, libraries, museums, and government bodies seeking institutional repository deployment.
• InvenioRDM Research Data Management Platform Turn-key research data management repository based on InvenioRDM (developed by CERN), piloted as a national repository for Nigerian researchers. Harvests content from standards-compliant Open Access repositories. For Nigerian research institutions seeking standards-compliant research data management infrastructure.
• Kotahi Open Access Publishing Platform Publishing platform for submission, review, and publication of preprints, micropubs, and journals at reduced costs for African academics, piloted in the Nigerian community Open Science cloud via partnership with Coko Foundation. For Nigerian academic communities seeking low-cost open access journal and preprint publishing workflows.
• BonafID Persistent Identity Platform Cloud and on-premise platform providing persistent lifelong eduID to users as they progress through their academic career regardless of institution affiliation. Co-developed with Datasphir, DAASI International, and Switch. For national identity federations and institutions needing centralized authentication and persistent user identity across institutional changes.
• Hybrid Learning Platform (Moodle + Zoom) Blended teaching and learning solution integrating the Moodle Learning Management System with Zoom video conferencing, including an OER (Open Educational Resources) repository. For Nigerian higher education institutions delivering hybrid and online courses.
• Cloud Hosting Services Community cloud infrastructure (ren.ng) providing ubiquitous access to shared platforms and services using digital identity for secure and seamless access across the Nigerian REN ecosystem. For member institutions needing hosted digital services without standing up their own infrastructure.
• Academic CSIRT Computer Security Incident Response Team services for the Nigerian REN community and constituent institutions, enhancing cybersecurity posture through the TrustBroker Africa initiative. For Nigerian universities and research institutes needing institutional cybersecurity response capabilities.
• Training and Consultancy Fee-based training programs and consultancy including Moodle Course Development and Administration, e-learning implementation, CSIRT maturity, and physical computing education, delivered on-site at member institution campuses across Nigeria. For university staff, librarians, ICT teams, and institutional decision-makers needing capacity building.
• Cultural Heritage Digitization with DataCite IGSNs GAF Demonstrator Project in collaboration with the National Commission of Museums and Monuments (NCMM), assigning DataCite IGSNs to ancient physical artefacts in Nigerian museums. Repository deployed at the Lagos Museum with automated IGSN assignment. For national museums, monuments commissions, and cultural heritage institutions seeking digitization of physical collections.

Quantifiable outcome

• Deployed National Repository for the National Library of Nigeria
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ORCIDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Eko-Konnect serves as ORCID Consortium Lead for Nigeria effective 1st December 2024. The partnership enables Nigerian institutions and researchers to access ORCID membership benefits, shared knowledge, and cost-effective integration of ORCID iDs into institutional systems. Provides administrative support, technical support, and onboarding assistance for Nigerian research community.
• DataCitecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Eko-Konnect assumed the role of Consortium Lead for DataCite DOIs effective 1st November 2023, enabling Nigerian institutions to access DOI registration services. The partnership supports the DataCite Global Access Fund demonstrator project for museum digitisation with IGSNs.
• JisccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2021Partnership under The Digital University Africa project sponsored by the British Council. Jisc provides digital solutions and expertise while Eko-Konnect delivers workshops on digital capabilities for staff and students in Nigerian universities.
• WACREN (West and Central African Research and Education Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEko-Konnect is a constituent NREN of WACREN. The partnership provides access to regional REN services including eduID.africa cloud service, capacity building programs, LIBSENSE initiative coordination, and participation in the TrustBroker Africa CSIRT initiative. WACREN facilitates connections to international research networks and Open Science infrastructure across Africa.
• National Commission of Museums and Monuments (NCMM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration under the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture & Creative Economy to digitize Nigeria's archaeological artefacts and historical objects through Open Access Repositories. The GAF Demonstrator Project assigns IGSNs to artefacts housed in museums, ensuring long-term accessibility and cultural heritage preservation.
• COKO FoundationcoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration to pilot Kotahi publishing platform in the Nigerian community Open Science cloud. Kotahi manages submission, review, and publication of preprints, micropubs, and journals at reduced costs for African academics.
• National Library of NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEko-Konnect deployed the National Repository of Nigeria on behalf of the National Library of Nigeria, the apex library institution in the country.
• DatasphircoreTechnology or IntegrationLongstanding collaboration with Datasphir as open technology provider supporting Eko-Konnect infrastructure. Datasphir collaborated with Daasi International and Switch to develop the BonafID platform for persistent educational identity.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CANARIE: Canada's NREN providing identity federation, research data management, and digital infrastructure to Canadian universities. Comparable in mandate to Eko-Konnect but at a much larger and more mature scale.
• GÉANT: Pan-European research and education networking organization that interconnects European NRENs. Operates eduGAIN and global eduroam services that Eko-Konnect federates into, making it an upstream peer in the same architecture.
• RENATER: French national REN providing connectivity, federated identity, and trust services to French higher education and research institutions. Similar mandate and architecture to Eko-Konnect in Nigeria.
• Internet2: US-based nonprofit consortium operating the US research and education network with InCommon identity federation and eduroam. Comparable in structure to Eko-Konnect at a substantially larger scale.
• SURF: Dutch collaborative organization for IT in higher education and research, operating the SURF network and federated identity services. Functionally analogous to Eko-Konnect for the Netherlands.
• Jisc: UK NREN and digital, data, and technology agency for UK higher education. Direct partner of Eko-Konnect through the British Council Digital University Africa project and offers a comparable but much larger-scale federated identity and learning portfolio.

Direct peers

• WACREN (West and Central African Research and Education Network): Regional umbrella REN of which Eko-Konnect is a constituent member. Operates the same NREN model across West/Central Africa, providing eduID.africa, capacity building, and CSIRT services to national RENs including Eko-Konnect.
• ASREN (Arab States Research and Education Network): Regional REN serving Arab states with federated identity, eduroam, and Open Science infrastructure analogous to WACREN in West Africa. Useful peer for understanding regional REN operating models.
• TENET (Tertiary Education and Research Network of South Africa): South Africa's NREN delivering connectivity, identity federation, and research support to South African universities. Most mature African NREN with comparable mandate and services to Eko-Konnect.
• KENET (Kenya Education Network): National NREN for Kenya offering federated identity, eduroam, hosting, and training services to Kenyan universities. Highly comparable African NREN with a similar membership and grant-funded operating model.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EkoKonnect
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpEkzD0WUQ654bq0YFKO8Pw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Eko.konnect
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eko-konnect-research-and-education-initiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eko-Konnect