The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, has declared that no girl who drops out of school should be regarded as a lost cause, stressing the need to provide second-chance education opportunities for girls and young women whose education has been disrupted.
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 women who were forced to discontinue their education because of early pregnancy, socio-economic difficulties and 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 added that girls whose circumstances prevented them from completing their education should be given opportunities to return to learning, acquire relevant skills and build productive futures.
According to her, the Alternative High School for Girls provides beneficiaries with opportunities to complete their education while acquiring vocational skills that can improve their livelihoods.
Garba said the circumstances that interrupted a girl’s education should not determine her access to quality education or limit her future prospects.
She traced the vision behind the institution to 2007, when Senator Oluremi Tinubu served as First Lady of Lagos State, and commended her sustained commitment to girls’ education and empowerment.
The UBEC boss said the initiative aligns with the education and human capital development priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She also commended 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.
Garba similarly praised the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for supporting educational and mentorship initiatives aimed at promoting academic development, character formation and life skills among 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.
The institution also has a library and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities to support academic learning and practical skills development.
Garba disclosed that rehabilitation work was ongoing at another Alternative High School for Girls in Ikorodu, Lagos State, as part of efforts to expand access to alternative education.
Representing the First Lady, Nana Shettima described the education of the girl child as critical to nation-building and appreciated UBEC for rehabilitating and equipping the school.
She recalled that the institution was established to provide girls affected by early pregnancy and socio-economic challenges with an opportunity 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, Sanwo-Olu described the commissioning as the unveiling of a new opportunity for young women, saying the rehabilitation had restored dignity to the institution and opened new possibilities for its beneficiaries.
She noted that educating a girl benefits not only the individual but also her family, community and the nation.
The commissioning represents a boost to alternative education as a pathway for girls and young women who have been unable to continue through the conventional school system.
With academic, ICT and vocational facilities available, beneficiaries can pursue secondary education while developing practical skills to support their future livelihoods.
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 meaningfully to national development.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and fulfil their potential,” she said.
