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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
First Lady of Nigeria Oluremi Tinubu, has called for greater opportunities for girls whose education has been disrupted by early pregnancy, poverty and other socio-economic challenges, declaring that their circumstances must not determine their future.
Mrs. Tinubu made the call on Friday while commissioning the renovated Alternative High School for Girls in Agboju, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, where she reaffirmed her commitment to providing girls who dropped out of school with a second chance to complete their education and acquire skills for economic independence.
The school, established in 2007 during the tenure of President Bola Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State, was created to provide an alternative pathway for girls whose formal education had been interrupted by early pregnancy and other life challenges.
Represented at the commissioning by the Wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, the First Lady said the initiative was founded on the conviction that no girl or woman should be denied the opportunity to fulfil her potential because of the challenges she encounters in life.
Addressing the students, she urged them to take full advantage of the opportunity offered by the school and refuse to allow their past experiences to define their future.
“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 renovated facility, executed through the intervention of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), 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, in addition to a well-equipped library and ICT facilities.
Mrs Tinubu commended the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, and her team for improving the learning environment, saying the intervention would help more girls who had been left behind in the conventional education system to return to school and rebuild their future.
She also applauded UBEC for its efforts to establish Alternative High Schools for Girls across the country, noting that another school was under construction in Ikorodu, Lagos State, and would soon be ready for commissioning.
The First Lady said her 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 already have one school each, leaving Lagos Central as the only district yet to benefit from the initiative.
She therefore urged the Lagos State Government to complete the initiative by establishing an Alternative High School for Girls in Lagos Central and ensure the effective operation and proper maintenance of the existing schools.
She said the move would enable more girls to complete their education while acquiring relevant vocational skills that could improve their economic prospects.
The Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the commissioning as more than the unveiling of a renovated school, saying it represented the restoration of dignity and creation of new opportunities for young women.
“Educating a girl is educating a family, a community and a nation,” she said.
Also speaking, the UBEC Executive Secretary, Garba, said the commission remained committed to providing alternative access to education while equipping beneficiaries with relevant skills.
She said the renovation of the Agboju school was part of the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to ensuring that girls whose education had been disrupted were not permanently excluded from the education system.
Garba added that work was ongoing on the Alternative High School for Girls in Ikorodu, which she said would soon be commissioned.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, and the Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Hon. Shittu.
The commissioning ceremony ended with an inspection of the renovated facilities by Hajiya Nana Shettima, who represented the First Lady.
The Agboju school combines secondary education with vocational training, providing students with opportunities to obtain formal qualifications while acquiring practical skills in areas that can enhance their employability, self-reliance and contribution to national development.
