Abuja: The Executive Board of the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE) has appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Uduma Uduma, as the 1st Vice-President. The board also named the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, as Goodwill Ambassador of the council.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, a statement signed by Mr Ibrahim Sheme, Director of Media and Publicity at NOUN, ACDE President Prof. Solomon Shibairo communicated these appointments in letters dated February 17, 2026, to both Uduma and Peters. Shibairo congratulated Uduma on his new role as NOUN’s Vice-Chancellor and noted the institution’s holding of the 1st Vice-President position on the ACDE Executive Board.
Uduma will undertake the responsibilities of 1st Vice-President while serving as Vice-Chancellor of NOUN. His role will involve supporting the President in executing strategic objectives of the council and representing ACDE at various meetings and conferences. Responsibilities also include participating in board meetings, contributing to policy decisions, and strengthening partnerships within the West African sub-region. Additionally, the position involves mobilizing resources, engaging stakeholders, and promoting knowledge-sharing and capacity-building among member institutions.
Shibairo expressed optimism about Uduma’s leadership, highlighting its potential to advance ACDE’s strategic goals and strengthen open, distance, and e-learning across Africa. In a separate letter, Shibairo praised Peters for his contributions to NOUN and the Open and Distance Education community in Africa, noting his leadership marked by vision and innovation.
Peters’ tenure as 1st Vice-President was credited with strengthening ACDE’s governance and its presence across the continent. The Goodwill Ambassador appointment acknowledges Peters’ legacy and ongoing support for the council. In his new role, Peters will promote ACDE’s image and engage with governments, regional bodies, and international organizations, supporting advocacy, advisory, and representation activities aligned with the council’s strategic objectives.
ACDE is a continental organization of African universities committed to expanding access to quality education through Open and Distance Learning, including e-learning. The council is registered in Kenya as an international non-profit organization, with its headquarters in Nairobi.