By Felix Khanoba
The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Olufemi Peters, has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to formulate clear policies and regulatory frameworks that will bolster the adoption of micro-credentials in Nigeria’s education sector.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja during the opening ceremony of a two-day international capacity-building workshop on micro-credentialing—organised by NOUN in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Prof. Peters said the integration of micro-credentials is crucial for the future of education and workforce development.
“I am aware there are still some challenges related to recognition and certification, but I am certain micro-credentials will play a critical role in shaping the future of professional education, making them a compelling alternative to traditional academic degrees. This is the reason, institutions, and national regulatory bodies must seize the initiative to develop policies and regulations that will ensure its relevance to society and the emerging job market,” he said.
Emphasizing the strategic importance of the workshop, Peters called on regulatory bodies, particularly the NUC, to lead in establishing national definitions, standards, and goals to guide micro-credentialing efforts.
“I call on our national regulatory bodies and especially the National Universities Commission to take the leadership role in formulating nationally clear definitions, standards, and goals, aligning with national education goals and quality assurance measures, that would strengthen micro-credentialing in our country,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, themed “Developing Micro-Credentials Transfer in a Digital Age,” the Director of NOUN’s Regional Training and Research Institute for Open and Distance Learning (RETRIDOL), Professor Christine Ofolue, stressed the need for a unified continental framework to facilitate credential recognition across borders.
“The current difficulties that we have in recognising credentials from other countries, both from here and in West Africa, will be a thing of the past. When this framework is done, we will have an instrument that will enable the different countries to be able to properly recognise and properly situate credentials, depending on where you are from,” she said.
Ofolue noted that the framework is expected to be finalised within a year.
“We are hoping at least within a year or less that we should be able to have a draft that everybody will look at and will be able to sign to and will start operating,” she said.
While addressing the issue of inconsistency in the acceptance of short courses across institutions and workplaces in Nigeria, Ofolue said, “even right now within Nigeria, some of these short courses that have been offered by various institutions or organisations, it depends on the credibility of the organisation. If you take it to an employer, you may not recognise it as a credential that you appreciate or value. So this framework, however, will enable employers to value it and to be able to determine how they would use it within their workplace,” she explained.
In a video message, the President of COL, Professor Peter Scott, described micro-credentials as vital tools in an era of rapid technological change and global mobility.
“In an era defined by digital transformation due to increased digitalisation, the use of general artificial intelligence, the global workforce mobility, and indeed the need for continuous learning, micro-credentials have emerged as a flexible and powerful tool.
“They allow us to bridge skill gaps, to improve employability, and they provide individuals with new pathways to professional growth. However, for micro-credentials to achieve their full potential, they must comply with common standards.
“They must be recognised and transferable across institutions, into industries, and through national borders. This is where working together on a common framework really matters. Now, this meeting is not just an opportunity to share insights.
“It also offers a platform to engage in meaningful discussions, to exchange experiences, and to contribute to a robust credit transfer framework for micro-credentials in the Commonwealth that is both inclusive and implementable,” he said.
Echoing the significance of harmonisation across borders, Dr Roland Kouakou, Director of Education, Science and Culture at the ECOWAS Commission, emphasised the role of micro-credentials and credit transfer systems in enabling educational mobility across the region.
“You know, credit transfer is like your son has a, let’s say, certificate in Nigeria. And you want to go from there in Ghana. How he can take this credit from Nigeria and go to Ghana without losing a year. So, this kind of partnership among the university and partnership is very important.
“So, you will enhance the mobility of your son from Nigeria to another country. You are going, for example, when you leave Nigeria to UK, sometimes the university, they are trying to see at which level they are going to maybe put you in the university.
“So, they are trying to see the equivalence from your certificate to their own level. So, in our region, I think that what the Commonwealth are doing is very important because you will enhance the mobility of the youth in the region,” he said.
Also speaking, Professor Jane-Frances Agbu, Adviser on Higher Education at COL, noted that micro-credentials are increasingly important in enabling quick upskilling and reskilling in the face of evolving workforce demands.
The workshop attracted delegates from African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon, all of which are exploring collaborative strategies for the standardisation of micro-credential systems on the continent.
The AUTHORITY reports that two other countries – Togo and Gabon are also part of the scheme.
