The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, has said girls who drop out of school should be given opportunities to return to education and acquire skills to build productive futures.
Garba spoke on Saturday at the commissioning of the rehabilitated Alternative High School for Girls in Agboju, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
She described the school as a second chance pathway for girls and young mothers whose education had been disrupted by early pregnancy, socio economic challenges or other circumstances.
“A girl who drops out of school should not be regarded as a lost cause. A young mother who wants to return to school should not be told that her time has passed,” Garba said.
She commended First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her longstanding commitment to girls’ education and empowerment, tracing the vision behind the school to 2007, when Tinubu was First Lady of Lagos State.
Garba said the initiative was consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises education and human capital development.
She also acknowledged the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, who represented the First Lady at the event, for her commitment to education and vulnerable children. She commended the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for supporting educational and mentorship initiatives for young people.
The rehabilitated school comprises two blocks with more than 26 classrooms, facilities for Agriculture, Physics and Biology, as well as vocational training areas for cosmetology, garment making, hairdressing, catering and home economics. It also has a library and ICT facilities.
Garba disclosed that rehabilitation work was ongoing on another Alternative High School for Girls in Ikorodu, Lagos State, as part of efforts to expand access to alternative education.
Representing the First Lady, Hajiya Nana Shettima described girls’ education as crucial to nation building and commended UBEC for rehabilitating and equipping the school.
She said the institution was established to enable girls affected by early pregnancy and socio economic challenges to return to school, complete their secondary education and acquire vocational skills.
She urged the students to remain focused and resilient, assuring them that their past experiences should not determine their future.
Also speaking, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who represented the Lagos State Governor, described the project as a new opportunity for young women, saying the rehabilitation had restored dignity to the institution and opened new possibilities for its beneficiaries.
Garba reaffirmed UBEC’s commitment to working with state governments and other stakeholders to expand alternative education, improve learning environments and strengthen skills acquisition programmes for girls and young women across the country.
She said the Commission would continue to create pathways for children and young people whose education had been disrupted to return to learning, acquire relevant skills and contribute to national development.
