Call for Second-Chance Education Investment

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has called for increased investment in second-chance education programmes for girls whose schooling has been disrupted by early pregnancy, economic hardship, cultural barriers, and other circumstances beyond their control. Speaking on Friday at the commissioning of the rehabilitated Alternative High School for Girls, Agboju, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, she stressed that no girl should be permanently denied education because of the challenges she had encountered.

Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, the First Lady stated that the rehabilitation and equipping of the school by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) represented an important intervention in restoring educational opportunities to girls who had been left out of the formal school system. She emphasized that providing these pathways is essential for national development.

No girl should be denied the opportunity to complete her education and fulfil her potential because of circumstances beyond her control.

— Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria

History and Expansion of Alternative Schooling

The Alternative High School for Girls was established in 2007 by the then Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, to provide girls with an opportunity to return to school, complete their secondary education, and acquire vocational skills. The initiative has since grown beyond its original purpose, with similar alternative schools being established in other parts of the country to give out-of-school girls a fresh opportunity to rebuild their lives through education.

The First Lady disclosed that another alternative high school is currently under construction in Ikorodu to serve the Lagos East Senatorial District. She further urged the Lagos State Government to expand this model to ensure all regions are covered, specifically calling for a new facility in Lagos Central to complete the state's plan for inclusive education.

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.

— Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Impact and Stakeholder Commitment

Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the commissioning as a homecoming, noting that the school has become a model for restoring dignity to young women. She highlighted that graduates of the school have gone on to become professionals and entrepreneurs, serving as evidence of the transformative impact of second-chance education. The Governor's wife pledged that the school would remain a sanctuary for those who had been left behind.

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.

— Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Wife of the Governor, Lagos State

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, also encouraged the students to pursue their ambitions with confidence, noting that their backgrounds should not determine their future careers as doctors, engineers, or public servants. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of empowerment items and gifts to outstanding students, including equipment for catering, makeup, cosmetology, and hairdressing to support their vocational training.