President Tinubu Directs Inclusion Of NOUN Graduates In NYSC Scheme.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the Federal Ministry of Education to develop guidelines for including graduates of the National Open University (NOUN) in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. This directive was given during the university’s 13th convocation ceremony, held at the University’s Convocation Arena in Jabi, Abuja. Represented by Biodun Saliu, Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the President expressed his administration’s commitment to addressing educational inclusivity. “With the changing demographics of our great nation, the government has recognized the importance of allowing NOUN graduates to participate in the NYSC scheme,” President Tinubu stated, emphasizing the need to harness the potential of young Nigerians from all educational backgrounds. Opening Doors for NOUN Law Graduates In a related development, President Tinubu also announced the resolution of the long-standing issue concerning the admittance of NOUN law graduates to the country’s law schools. “The doors of the Law School are now open to the graduates, ensuring equal opportunities for all,” he declared. This move is expected to remove any remaining barriers faced by NOUN graduates in legal education, further cementing the government’s stance on educational equality. The Role of Open and Distance Learning The convocation celebrated the graduates’ academic achievements and highlighted the vital role that Open and Distance Learning (ODL) plays in shaping Nigeria’s educational landscape. The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enhancing ODL to broaden access to higher education across the nation, essential for meeting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “We will continue to improve quality, access, and affordability in education through robust support for ODL,” Tinubu added, noting the pivotal role of the Federal Ministry of Education and the NUC in providing an enabling environment for effective delivery of distance education in Nigeria. NOUN’s Evolution and Its Impacts The President praised the evolution of NOUN from an educational platform initially envisioned for the working class to one that now caters to the broader needs of Nigeria’s youthful population. He acknowledged the challenges many school leavers face in gaining admission to traditional universities and emphasized the need for enhanced research in technology at NOUN to accommodate more young school leavers and improve social safety nets for the people. Advancing Government Commitment Through ICT Furthermore, President Tinubu revealed that within the next six months, NOUN would begin providing access to government officials for enrollment in various ICT programs, particularly postgraduate courses at the African Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL). This initiative is part of a broader government effort to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency. He urged NOUN to admit qualified government functionaries into its postgraduate programs offered by ACETEL. The President also tasked the World Bank-sponsored centre, hosted by NOUN, to focus on research that will improve the use of ICT tools for enhanced learning outcomes in Nigeria.

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"I wanted that degree" Grandfather says as he graduates from college at 88 with straight As

88-year-old Horace Sheffield has proven that it is never too late to chase your dreams. The grandfather, who quit his education from Shorter University in 1965 to help educate his daughters, finally went back to the same university and successfully graduated this year.

On Friday, Sheffield of Barnesville, Georgia,  walked across the stage along with his tutor Amanda Brannock to accept his diploma at Shorter University. He had attended the University from 1960 to 1965 but quit before graduating.

“I dropped out with 115 hours,” he recalled. “At that time a piece of paper on a wall didn’t mean that much to me. I had my education and my brain and my heart, and I put them all to good use. But 60 years later I wanted that degree.”

Sheffield earned his Bachelor of Science in Christian studies through online courses after reading an article in a magazine that seniors could attend college for free.

“I’m retired and living on fixed income, and I did not think I could go to college and pay tuition,” said Sheffield. “But when I saw this article that senior citizens could go to college for free, Shorter accepted me at no tuition. I paid a $200 graduation fee and that’s all I paid. I walked with a walker.”

He credits Brannock, who “walked beside me to make sure I didn’t trip over wires or something,” for being the only reason he was able to pull off this accomplishment.

“She wrote out my assignments and told me what to do and she expected me to do it,” he said. “She expected me to make straight As and I did it. I wrote two papers a week and then had the test. I wrote it in long-hand and she typed it all up and put it into the computer. Without her, I would not have this diploma today.”

Brannock helped Sheffield to achieve his life-long dream by tutoring him even though she does not have her own degree yet. She took her computer and printer to Sheffield's house the moment she heard he was studying for a degree and spent more time in his house than with her family, helping him with his studies and inspiring him.

“I’m relieved because it was a lot of work,” she explained of his course load. “I lived with Horace more than I lived with my own family the last two years. We’ve kept each other going. He’s inspired me to keep going and I hope I inspired him to keep going. Graduation was one of the happiest days of my life. I cried like a baby. It was one of the most precious moments and I couldn’t have been more proud even if it was my own degree," Brannock said.

Brannock said she was misguided the first time she went to college and ended up not graduating but because of her love for learning, she enjoyed every bit of helping Sheffield study because it meant she learnt a lot too. Sheffield promised that when Brannock finally earns her degree, he will walk across the stage with her too.

Sheffield's granddaughter, Jill Brazier, feeling as proud as only a grandchild can feel for their grandparent, spoke to ABS News about her grandfather.

“He’s smart as a whip, I’m not even lying," she said.

Meet Peggy Whitson: the woman who just made American history by spending 535 days in Space

Peggy Whitson woke up this morning to break a record after spending 535 days in space.

In November 2016, Whitson and two other astronauts, from Russia and the European Space Agency, blasted off for the International Space Station to conduct hundreds of experiments in biology, earth science and how lighting affects the crew.

The other two are sticking to the schedule, but Whitson, the commander, was just extended by three months, taking advantage of an empty seat when Russia decided to reduce its crew by one.

Her career total of 535 days in space, compiled over three trips to the space station, breaks an American record previously held by Jeff Williams. He has flown four missions, including on Space Shuttle Atlantis, and returned from the space station just last September.

It's not Whitson's first record. She has logged more hours spacewalking than any other woman 57 hours and 22 minutes over eight spacewalks. She was the first woman to command the space station. And at 57, she is the oldest woman to travel to space.