Prof Olufemi Peters, NOUN VC, bags ICDE 2025 global prize of excellence
Prof Olufemi Peters, Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has been awarded the 2025 Individual Prize of Excellence by the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE).
The honour, presented in Wellington, New Zealand, recognises outstanding leadership and impact in open and distance learning worldwide.
The ICDE jury cited Peters’ transformative leadership at NOUN, highlighting innovations such as the expansion of the university’s mobile learning platform to over 350,000 students, the introduction of blockchain-based microcredentials, the strengthening of quality assurance systems, and the establishment of the African Centre for Excellence in Technology-Enhanced Learning.
Beyond NOUN, Peters has contributed to the African ODL community as the inaugural Vice-President of the African Council for Distance Education and chair of a regional training board, promoting access, diversity, and women’s participation in leadership.
Speaking virtually from Abuja, Peters dedicated the award to NOUN colleagues and the broader African ODL community, calling it a validation of NOUN’s mission to democratise education. He praised technology as a tool for flexible, inclusive, and transformative learning and emphasised the role of ODL in empowering communities.
The award was received on his behalf by NOUN’s Head of Information and Call Centre, Ms Wosilatu Ainodion.
