First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has reaffirmed her commitment to giving girls whose education has been disrupted by early pregnancy and other life challenges a second chance to complete their formal education and acquire skills for a productive future.
The First Lady spoke on Friday at the commissioning of the renovated Alternative High School for Girls in Agboju, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Mrs Tinubu, represented at the ceremony by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, said the initiative was founded on the conviction that no girl or woman should be denied the opportunity to realise her full potential because of life challenges.
The school, established in 2007 by Mrs Tinubu during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State, was conceived to provide an educational lifeline for girls whose schooling had been interrupted by early pregnancy and other socio-economic circumstances.
It offers beneficiaries an opportunity to return to the classroom, complete their secondary education and acquire vocational skills to improve their prospects for economic independence.
A statement issued by Special Assistant to the President on Media and ICT, Office of the Vice President, Kwapchi Bata Hamman, said the renovated facility comprises two blocks with more than 26 classrooms as well as agriculture, physics and biology laboratories.
It also has facilities for cosmetology, garment-making, hairdressing, catering and home economics, alongside a well-equipped library and Information and Communication Technology facilities.
The First Lady expressed delight at the renovation and equipping of the school through the intervention of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
She commended the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, and her team for their commitment to improving the learning environment and expanding educational opportunities for girls.
Mrs Tinubu also applauded the commission’s efforts towards establishing Alternative High Schools for Girls across the country, particularly another facility currently under construction in Ikorodu, Lagos State, which she said would soon be ready for commissioning.
She explained that the broader vision was to establish at least one Alternative High School for Girls in each of the three senatorial districts of Lagos State.
According to her, Lagos West and Lagos East now have one school each, leaving Lagos Central as the only senatorial district yet to be covered.
She consequently urged the Lagos State Government to complete the initiative by establishing another Alternative High School for Girls in Lagos Central.
The First Lady also stressed the need for the state government to ensure the schools operate effectively and are properly maintained so more girls can complete their education and acquire relevant vocational skills.
Addressing the students, Mrs Tinubu urged them to make the most of the opportunity offered by the institution and refuse to allow previous setbacks to determine the course of their lives.
‘Let your past not define your future. With determination, discipline and hard work, you can achieve your dreams and become positive contributors to our nation’s development,’ she said.
The Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event, described the commissioning as the unveiling of a renewed institution capable of restoring dignity and opening fresh opportunities for young women.
She stressed the wider social benefits of investing in girls’ education, noting that educating a girl has a multiplier effect on families, communities and the nation.
UBEC Executive Secretary, Garba, said the commission remained committed to providing alternative access to education combined with skills development across the country.
She said the renovation of the Alternative High School for Girls in Agboju formed part of the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to expanding educational opportunities for those requiring alternative pathways to formal education.
Garba added that work on the Ikorodu Alternative High School for Girls was ongoing and that the facility would also be commissioned upon completion.
Goodwill messages were delivered at the ceremony by the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, and the Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Hon. Shittu.
The ceremony was rounded off with an inspection of the renovated facilities by Shettima, who represented the First Lady at the event.