The National Open University of Nigeria - Regional Training Institute for Distance Open Learning (NOUN-RETRIDOL) has been awarded the Global Smart Education Innovation Prize 2025 award in Beijing, China.
This was sequel to its completion of an application that showcased its contributions and innovative practices in advancing Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) across the West Africa sub-region.
The Global Smart Education Innovation Prize recognizes excellence in three categories: Research Innovation Prize, Practice Innovation Prize and Technology Innovation Prize.
NOUN-RETRIDOL won the Practice Innovation Prize, awarded for its outstanding practical contributions to smart education, particularly in advancing ODeL policy, research, and practice across West Africa.
The award ceremony, which took place in Beijing, China on August 21, 2025 at the official Global Smart Education Innovation Prize 2025 ceremony, and celebrated groundbreaking innovations that use technology to transform education and promote inclusion, quality, and equity worldwide.
To this end, the NOUN-RETRIDOL qualified for the award based on its leadership in transforming Open, Distance, and e-Learning (ODeL) across West Africa.
The award was received on behalf of NOUN-RETRIDOL by Professor Carlos Alberto Pereira de Oliveira, Director of the Multidisciplinary Institute for Human Development with Technologies (IFHT) at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, and member of the Advisory Board of the Global Smart Education Network (GSENet).
“I had the honour of recommending NOUN’s -RETRIDOL candidacy and was deeply proud to represent NOUN at the award ceremony in Beijing, where I formally received the prize on their behalf,” Alberto Pereira de Oliveira told NOUN News via a written text.
According to him, “This recognition positions NOUN among the leading global institutions in smart education, particularly in the Global South. It affirms NOUN/RETRIDOL’s role as a continental hub for innovation in Open and Distance Learning and strengthens Africa’s voice in global education dialogues.
“This award highlights not only NOUN’s achievements but also the transformative role of RETRIDOL in shaping education in Africa. The recognition underscores the importance of South-South cooperation, as RETRIDOL’s initiatives serve as a model for other regions seeking sustainable and inclusive educational solutions.
“The prize also emphasizes the global relevance of African innovation in education, demonstrating how locally driven solutions can address pressing global challenges in access, equity, and digital transformation.
“I felt particularly honoured to stand on stage as both Director of IFHT/UERJ and Advisory Board member of GSENet, proudly celebrating this recognition for NOUN/RETRIDOL.”
GSENet is a network of organizations and institutions that aims to: Collaborate on promoting smart learning for all within the framework of SDG4: Quality Education; Share forward-thinking policies and practices to shape the future of education and lifelong learning at the local, national, regional and global levels.
It also conducts joint open access research, share open educational resources and open-source tools for the common good; Promote innovation by combining the power of technology with innovative pedagogy and a human-centred approach; Build the capacity of teachers to play a leading role in the tripartite matrix of teacher learner-technology.
RETRIDOL’s innovations such as the Regional Capacity-building Workshops on Digital Learning, AI in Education, and ODeL Policy, Development of Online Courses and Micro-credentials to address skills gaps were notable for the award.
Other innovations considered are: Creation of the West African Journal for Open and Flexible Learning (WAJOFEL), a unique open-access journal dedicated to ODeL research, Strategic Partnerships with UNESCO, ECOWAS, and COL, anchoring its work in global sustainability frameworks, among others.
Meanwhile, the Global Smart Education Innovation Prize is awarded to individuals, institutions, or organizations that have developed and implemented impactful smart education innovations.
The prize recognizes both theoretical and practical innovations, including digital solutions, research, and technological advancements in the field of smart education.
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