Lagos First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu and the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima with some of the students at the event
An alternative high school was under construction in Ikorodu to serve the Lagos East senatorial district.
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called for greater investment in second-chance education for girls whose schooling has been disrupted by early pregnancy, economic hardship, cultural barriers and other challenges.
Tinubu made the call on Friday at the commissioning of the rehabilitated Alternative High School for Girls in Agboju, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, where she urged government and other stakeholders to ensure that no girl is denied the opportunity to complete her education and fulfil her potential.
The First Lady, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, expressed satisfaction with the rehabilitation and equipping of the school through the intervention of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
The Alternative High School for Girls was established in 2007 by then Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President of Nigeria, to provide girls whose education had been interrupted with an opportunity to return to school, complete their secondary education and acquire vocational skills.
The First Lady said the initiative had grown beyond its original purpose, with similar alternative schools now being established in other parts of the country under efforts to provide out-of-school girls with renewed opportunities.
She disclosed that another alternative high school was under construction in Ikorodu to serve the Lagos East senatorial district, and urged the Lagos State Government to establish another facility in Lagos Central.
“I therefore urge the Lagos State Government to complete the plan by establishing an additional school in Lagos Central, while ensuring the smooth operation and proper maintenance of all the schools so that more girls can complete their education,” she said.
According to her, every girl deserves the opportunity to overcome circumstances that may have interrupted her education and build a productive future.
She urged the students not to allow their past experiences to determine their future, stressing the importance of determination, discipline and hard work.
“To the students, I encourage you to take the most of this opportunity. 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 First Lady also commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for their support for education and the rehabilitation of the school before formally commissioning the facility.
Representing Governor Sanwo-Olu at the ceremony, his wife, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, described the occasion as a homecoming, recalling that the Alternative High School for Girls was initiated in 2007 when Oluremi Tinubu served as Lagos State First Lady.
She said the school had since become a model for restoring educational opportunities to girls whose schooling had been disrupted by early pregnancy, economic hardship and cultural barriers.
According to her, the institution has helped young women return to education, obtain Senior Secondary School Certificates and acquire vocational and life skills.
“Since then, this institution has quietly restored dignity and destiny to countless young women, guiding them back to the Senior Secondary School Certificate and equipping them with skills and values for life,” she said.
She added that some graduates of the school had gone on to become professionals, entrepreneurs and mothers, describing their achievements as evidence of the transformative impact of second-chance education.
Sanwo-Olu assured that Lagos State would sustain the rehabilitated facility and preserve its mission of providing a pathway back into education for girls who had been left behind.
“Educating a girl, as you all know, is educating a family, a community, and a nation,” she said.
She further pledged that the state would ensure that the school remained a “sanctuary of second chances” while using its model to strengthen efforts to reach out-of-school children across Lagos.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, also urged the students to look beyond their present circumstances and pursue their ambitions with confidence.
He told them that their backgrounds or past challenges should not determine their future, noting that they could become teachers, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, lawyers, innovators, public servants and community leaders.
“The nation is awaiting what you will become,” Alli-Balogun told the students.
He commended Oluremi Tinubu, the Federal Government, UBEC, teachers, parents and other stakeholders for their contributions to the initiative and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to providing quality and inclusive education for girls.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of empowerment items and gifts to outstanding students. Ten of the best-performing students in various vocational departments received prizes, while students graduating from skills programmes received support in areas including catering, makeup, cosmetology, hairdressing and gele-making.
A deep freezer was also presented to the school by the wife of the Vice President.
