By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
Girls and young mothers whose education were cut short by early pregnancy or socio-economic hardship have a new lease on their academic future, following the commissioning of a rehabilitated Alternative High School for Girls in Agboju, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) on Saturday.
At the ceremony, UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, declared that no girl who drops out of school should be regarded as a lost cause.
“A young mother who wants to return to school should not be told that her time has passed. A girl whose circumstances prevented her from completing her education should be given an alternative opportunity to return to education,” she said.
She noted that the school would enable beneficiaries to complete their studies, acquire vocational skills, and build productive, fulfilling lives.
Dr. Garba traced the origins of the initiative to 2007, during Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State First Lady, commending her sustained commitment to ensuring that girls and young women can learn, grow and fulfil their potential.
She linked the project to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places education and human capital development at the heart of national priorities, and disclosed that a second Alternative High School for Girls is currently underway in Ikorodu as part of ongoing efforts to widen access to alternative education.
The revamped facility boasts two blocks of more than 26 classrooms, dedicated laboratories for Agriculture, Physics and Biology, and vocational training spaces for cosmetology, garment-making, hairdressing, catering and home economics, complemented by a library and ICT facilities for holistic academic and skills development.
Representing the First Lady, the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, described girl-child education as paramount to nation-building and commended UBEC’s intervention, urging the students to remain focused and resilient as their past should not define their future.
Also present, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, representing the Lagos State Governor, said the rehabilitation had restored dignity and opened fresh possibilities for beneficiaries, stressing that educating a girl uplifts not just the individual, but the family, community and nation at large.
Dr. Garba reaffirmed UBEC’s commitment to partnering with state governments and stakeholders to expand alternative education, improve learning environments and strengthen skills acquisition programmes for girls and young women nationwide, insisting that every child deserves the chance to learn, grow and fulfil their potential.
