The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has intensified efforts to expand access to education for vulnerable girls by commissioning a rehabilitated Alternative High School for Girls in Lagos State.
The project, located in Agboju, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, is designed to provide educational opportunities for girls whose schooling was interrupted by early pregnancy, financial hardship and other socio-economic challenges.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, described the institution as a platform for second chances and renewed hope for young women seeking to rebuild their lives through education.
She stressed that girls who drop out of school should not be abandoned or denied opportunities to continue their education.
“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,” she said.
Garba explained that the school combines conventional academic instruction with vocational training to ensure students acquire practical skills alongside formal education.
Representing the Wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima highlighted the importance of girls’ education to national development and encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the institution.
Also speaking, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the rehabilitation project as the beginning of a new chapter for many young women whose educational aspirations had been disrupted.
The upgraded facility now features two academic blocks containing more than 26 classrooms, science laboratories for Agriculture, Physics and Biology, a library and an Information and Communication Technology centre.
Vocational facilities have also been provided for training in cosmetology, garment making, hairdressing, catering and home economics to equip students with employable skills.
Garba further disclosed that UBEC is currently rehabilitating another Alternative High School for Girls in Ikorodu as part of efforts to expand alternative education opportunities across Lagos State.
She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to partnering with state governments and stakeholders to improve learning environments and strengthen skills acquisition programmes for girls and young women nationwide.
