Lagos State has commissioned Nigeria’s first Alternative Secondary School for Girls, a school created to give girls who dropped out or had their education interrupted another opportunity to continue their studies.
The school was commissioned on Friday, August 14, at Old Ojo Road, Agboju, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was represented at the ceremony by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima.
The new school is expected to provide girls with an opportunity to return to secondary education, learn new skills and prepare for further education and other opportunities.
Tinubu Calls for More Schools
In her address, Tinubu said she remained committed to improving education and opportunities for Nigerian girls.
She commended the Lagos State Government for supporting the project and called for the establishment of at least one alternative high school for girls in each senatorial district.
“You can achieve what you want with dedication and resilience,” she told the students.
She encouraged the girls to make good use of the opportunity provided by the school and gain the knowledge and skills needed to build better futures for themselves.
The First Lady also thanked the Lagos State Government, education officials, partners and others who contributed to the establishment of the school.
‘Every Girl Deserves a Second Chance’
The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, described the school as a major step towards ensuring that girls who could not complete their education have another chance.
He said the idea came from the need to address the different reasons girls are forced to leave school.
According to him, leaving school should not mean the end of a girl’s education or her chances of building a better future.
Alli-Balogun said the school would help beneficiaries return to formal education, acquire useful skills, regain confidence and prepare for further studies, entrepreneurship and participation in society.
He thanked the Federal Government, Lagos State Government, the First Lady and other stakeholders for their support in making the project possible.
The commissioning adds to efforts by the Lagos State Government to provide more flexible learning opportunities for girls whose education has been disrupted.
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