Nigeria is set to introduce micro-credentials in Nigerian universities as part of efforts to strengthen skills development and improve graduate employability.
The initiative is being driven by the National Universities Commission in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning.
The move aims to develop national guidelines that will integrate short, skill-based certifications into existing academic programmes across universities.
What Are Micro-Credentials?
Micro-credentials are short courses designed to equip learners with specific skills and competencies. These courses focus on areas such as:
- Digital technology
- Artificial Intelligence
- Entrepreneurship
- Renewable energy
- Project management
Unlike traditional degree programmes that take several years to complete, micro-credentials can be finished within weeks or months. They are tailored to meet current industry demands.
Many countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Oceania have already adopted or are piloting micro-credential systems. In West Africa, Sierra Leone is the first to develop a draft national micro-credential framework.
Stakeholders Meet in Abuja
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, declared open a two-day stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja focused on developing a national micro-credential framework.
Represented by the NUC Director of Research, Innovation and Information Technology, Lawal Faruk, Ribadu stressed that micro-credentials are not meant to replace traditional degrees.
Instead, he said they will provide flexible learning pathways. These pathways will improve access to education, support skills development, and strengthen the link between universities and the labour market.
The workshop is expected to address key issues such as:
- Quality assurance standards
- Credit accumulation and transfer
- Institutional readiness
- Contribution to employability and lifelong learning
Responding to a Changing Economy
Ribadu described the framework as a strategic response to the fast-changing demands of the 21st-century economy. He noted that specialised skills are increasingly valued alongside academic qualifications.
He added that Nigerian universities must remain dynamic and forward-looking to stay competitive globally.
In his goodwill message, the President of the Commonwealth of Learning, Prof. Peter Scott, commended Nigeria for taking proactive steps. He described the initiative as timely and aligned with global trends in higher education.
Dr Funmilayo Morebise, Director of Open and Distance Learning at the Commission, also described the workshop as a major step toward promoting innovation and flexibility in the university system.
Participants at the workshop include representatives from regulatory agencies, public and private universities, and development partners. They are expected to produce a draft framework tailored to Nigeria’s labour market realities.
If successfully implemented, micro-credentials could significantly reshape higher education and enhance workforce readiness in Nigeria.
