Nigeria’s NERD Academic Database Surpasses 400,000 Submissions, Verifies 115,000 Credentials

Nigeria’s Education Repository and Databank has passed 400,000 digitised academic submissions, giving the federal government’s education digitisation drive a rapidly expanding central archive for research and academic credentials.

The repository had received more than 410,000 theses, dissertations, student projects and other academic works by September 2026. Its National Credential Verification Service had processed more than 115,000 academic credentials. Of the 907 tertiary institutions enrolled on the platform, 629 were active, according to the latest figures.

The system includes universities, polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education. Universities account for 259 enrolled institutions, followed by 178 colleges of education, 179 monotechnics and 163 polytechnics. A further 130 institutions fall into other categories. The network covers 2,020 faculties and 9,626 departments, with academic works already visible from more than 1,600 faculties and 5,300 departments.

The data shows that student research is driving the platform’s growth. Undergraduate submissions stood at 409,456 as of September 4, compared with 1,563 postgraduate submissions. Female students accounted for 228,347 works, compared with 181,536 attributed to male students. Another 77 submissions had no gender category. Students aged 25 to 29 formed the largest contributor group, although the available account ends before providing further figures.

Institutions with significant volumes of submissions include the University of Benin, Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Ekiti State University, the University of Calabar and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Polytechnics including Kwara State Polytechnic, Kaduna Polytechnic, Auchi Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa and Federal Polytechnic Nekede have also recorded notable participation. The repository is therefore extending beyond the university system as it combines preservation and access to academic work with an additional layer for authenticating qualifications.