Abuja: Prof. Olufemi Peters, the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has announced that the institution is intensifying efforts to enhance its digital ranking and leadership in educational technology. Peters made this announcement during a press briefing evaluating the preparations for the upcoming 3rd Moodle Moot Africa 2025 conference, which NOUN will host in Abuja from October 8 to October 10.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Peters emphasized that NOUN’s decision to host the conference is a strategic move to establish its continental leadership in Open and Distance Learning (ODL). He highlighted the institution’s commitment to improving its digital presence, academic visibility, and global standing. This significant event, the first of its kind in Nigeria, follows two previous conferences hosted by South Africa.
The conference, slated to take place at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, aims to demonstrate NOUN’s leadership in digital learning and scalable education models. Peters noted the event’s significance, stating that it will attract participants from 24 countries, including 18 African nations, and several from Europe and beyond. The gathering is expected to draw hundreds of innovators and global attention towards the transformative role of technology in reshaping African education.
Key objectives for NOUN at the Moodle Moot include bolstering its institutional digital ranking through international engagement and establishing itself as a policy influencer in Africa’s EdTech sector. Peters also detailed plans to showcase NOUN’s Moodle-powered learning innovations to a global audience, emphasizing the institution’s ability to deliver education at scale while other African institutions are still exploring digital integration.
The Moodle-based system at NOUN, which serves approximately 170,000 students, utilizes advanced learning analytics and hybrid delivery models, all built on open-source tools. Peters highlighted the conference’s role as an influential platform for connecting 400 delegates, including vice-chancellors, software developers, and government officials, thus contributing to global education conversations and enhancing NOUN’s visibility in academic indexing and international collaborations.
Prof. Grace Jokhtan, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, expressed high expectations for the event, anticipating it to be among the best organized by the institution.