Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday inaugurated the newly rehabilitated First Alternative High School for Girls on Old Ojo Road, Agboju, in the Amuwo area of Lagos.

Mrs Tinubu conceived and introduced the school in 2007 during her husband’s tenure as governor of Lagos State.

The institution, the first of its kind in Nigeria, was established to provide formal education and vocational skills to young female school dropouts who had been forced out of the system by early pregnancy, poverty, or cultural barriers.

Since its inception, the Lagos State government-owned school has grown tremendously.

It has now been extensively rehabilitated, given a new look, and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and an enhanced workforce to ensure excellent service delivery.

The upgraded institution boasts 21st-century classrooms, workshops, science laboratories, a library, ICT facilities, a main hall, modern water and toilet systems, and a crèche for nursing mothers to keep their children safe while they learn.

Speaking at the inauguration, the First Lady—who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima—expressed joy over the sustenance and growth of the school she founded nearly two decades ago.

She noted that the objective of offering a second chance to those whose education was interrupted by early pregnancy or socio-economic challenges is being fulfilled.

Reflecting on her motivation, she said: “I believe then, as I still believe today, that no girl or woman should be denied the chance to reach their full potential because of life’s challenges.

“I am therefore happy that the school has been renovated and equipped through the integration of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and I commend both the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aishat Garba, and her team for renovating the school and improving its learning environment.

“I also applaud the commission’s efforts in the establishment of several special high schools for girls across the country, including the one under construction in another senatorial district of the state.”

She disclosed that the overarching plan is to establish at least one alternative high school for girls in each of the three senatorial districts of Lagos State. With Lagos West and Lagos East now accommodated, only Lagos Central remains.

“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,” the First Lady added.

Charging the students to make the most of the opportunity, Mrs Tinubu urged them to remain determined, disciplined, and hardworking.

“You should know that you can achieve your dreams and become positive contributors to our nation’s development once you are determined,” she stressed.

Mrs Tinubu also applauded Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for their unwavering commitment to advancing education for both boys and girls in the state.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Sanwo-Olu—also represented by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu—underscored the critical importance of the school.

He stated that it serves as a vital platform, giving teenage mothers and women a second chance to complete their secondary education, further their studies, and acquire vocational skills to achieve their life ambitions.

Sanwo-Olu declared that the renovated facility aligns perfectly with his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S.+ Agenda and supports the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Initiative aimed at reducing the population of out-of-school girls across Nigeria.

Reflecting on the school’s origins, Sanwo-Olu remarked that the vision was built on the belief that no girl should be written off because life interrupted her education. Since then, the school has quietly restored dignity and purpose to countless young women, guiding them toward earning their Senior Secondary School Certificate.

The governor noted that many alumnae are now successful professionals, entrepreneurs, and mothers raising children who will never experience the exclusion their mothers once faced.

“That is the true measure of this school—lives redeemed, futures rewritten,” Sanwo-Olu said. “We are profoundly grateful that, as First Lady of the Federal Republic, you did not leave this vision behind. Through the Renewed Hope Initiative, you have taken the Alternative High School for Girls to the six geopolitical zones of our country, and you have now returned to breathe new life into the school where it all began.

“This rehabilitation is a powerful statement that the first seed planted in Lagos almost two decades ago remains precious to you, and Lagosians thank you most sincerely.”

He promised that the state government would go beyond maintaining the facility to actively sustain its core mission.

“We will ensure that this school remains a sanctuary of second chances, and that its model continues to inspire our broader efforts to reach every out-of-school child in our State,” he stressed.

Commending the students for taking a bold step forward, he added: “Always remember that this school exists because people believe in your future, and so do I. So, study hard, dream boldly, and go on to lift others as you have been lifted.”

In his welcome remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, expressed delight over the school’s positive impact on girl-child education. He described the facility as a hub of hope, empowerment, and quality education that aligns with the federal “Renewed Hope” agenda.

Alli-Balogun reaffirmed that the school is structured to eliminate the barriers that force girls out of the classroom, providing a safe, inclusive environment tailored to their unique needs.

He noted that the institution provides a flexible, stigma-free environment where young women who left conventional schools due to teenage pregnancy, financial hardship, or domestic challenges can reclaim their academic journeys and become self-reliant citizens.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aishat Garba, and the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of Lagos Education District V, Mr. Abiodun Hassan, emphasized the importance of the upgrade.

Dr. Garba commended Senator Remi Tinubu for her long-standing history of supporting the vulnerable.

“Your support has gone beyond just academics, but also through mentorship programmes which you provided to boys as well as girls to develop character, academic growth, and life skills,” Garba said.

She added that through the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative, the federal government is pursuing critical reforms to expand access, improve quality, and reduce the number of out-of-school children.

Detailing the intervention, Garba stated: “UBEC has provided infrastructure, rehabilitation, academic facilities, supplies of ICT materials, teacher and student furniture, tools for skills development, lab equipment, and overall environment improvement. We believe that investment in education should be visible. Children deserve a conducive environment for learning.

“Today, we are officially handing this facility back to the Lagos State government, and we trust that the state will sustain the investment.”

Dr Garba also promised the speedy completion and inauguration of a similar school currently under construction in the Ikorodu area of the state.

On his part, Mr. Hassan assured the stakeholders that the facility would be put to excellent use and backed by a strict maintenance culture.

The teachers and students expressed immense excitement over the school’s new look, telling reporters on the sidelines of the event that they are fully motivated to give their studies the deserved attention. (Nigerian Tribune)

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