NOUN Advocates Policy on Unified Certification in Africa

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to establish clear policies and regulatory frameworks to support the adoption of micro-credentials within Nigeria’s education system.

This call was made by the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi Peters, at the opening of a two-day international capacity-building workshop on micro-credentialing. The event, held in Abuja, was organized in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL).

Professor Peters underscored the importance of integrating micro-credentials into mainstream education, describing them as a crucial tool for the future of learning and workforce development.

He noted that micro-credentials offer flexible, targeted alternatives to traditional academic degrees, and are increasingly relevant in a fast-evolving global job market.

He further emphasized the need for regulatory bodies, particularly the NUC, to take the lead in formulating national definitions, standards, and strategic goals to guide the effective implementation of micro-credentialing systems in Nigeria.

Also speaking at the event, Professor Christine Ofolue, Director of NOUN’s Regional Training and Research Institute for Open and Distance Learning (RETRIDOL), highlighted the need for a unified continental framework.

She pointed out that inconsistencies in the recognition of short courses and micro-credentials among institutions and employers in Nigeria hinder the system’s potential.

Dr. Roland Kouakou, Director of Education, Science, and Culture at the ECOWAS Commission, echoed the need for regional harmonization.

He emphasized the importance of micro-credentials and credit transfer systems in promoting educational mobility and cross-border credential recognition within West Africa.

The workshop is themed “Developing Micro-Credentials Transfer in a Digital Age”, and it aims to foster regional cooperation and build institutional capacity to integrate micro-credentials into formal education systems.