No Girl Is a Lost Cause, UBEC Boss Declares as Alternative School Gives Lagos Girls Second Chance By Beauty Akporido Aroh
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, has declared that no girl who drops out of school should ever be regarded as a lost cause, as she called for stronger support systems to enable girls and young mothers return to education and rebuild their futures.
Garba made the declaration on Saturday at Agboju, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, during the commissioning of the rehabilitated Alternative High School for Girls, describing the institution as a critical “second-chance” pathway for girls whose education has been disrupted by early pregnancy, poverty, socio-economic challenges 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.
According to her, the rehabilitation of the school represents more than the reconstruction of classrooms, as it provides an opportunity for beneficiaries to complete their secondary education while acquiring vocational and digital skills capable of preparing them for productive livelihoods.
She stressed that the circumstances that interrupted a girl’s education must not become a permanent barrier to her future.
Garba traced the origin of the Alternative High School initiative to 2007, during the tenure of Senator Oluremi Tinubu as First Lady of Lagos State, commending her enduring commitment to girls’ education and empowerment.
She said the vision remained relevant to the nation’s current educational challenges and was consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its emphasis on education and human capital development.
The UBEC boss also commended Hajiya Nana Shettima, who represented the First Lady at the commissioning, for her commitment to education and vulnerable children, while acknowledging the contributions of Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of the Lagos State Governor, to educational and mentorship initiatives.
The newly rehabilitated facility comprises two blocks containing more than 26 classrooms, laboratories and learning spaces for Agriculture, Physics and Biology, alongside vocational training areas for cosmetology, garment-making, hairdressing, catering and home economics.
The school is also equipped with a library and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities, giving students access to both conventional academic learning and practical skills development.
Garba disclosed that UBEC was already working on another Alternative High School for Girls in Ikorodu, Lagos State, as part of efforts to expand access to alternative education for girls and young women who have been excluded from the conventional education system.
Representing the First Lady, Hajiya Nana Shettima described the education of the girl child as paramount to nation building, noting that the institution was originally established to provide girls affected by early pregnancy and socio-economic difficulties with an opportunity to return to school.
She urged the students to remain focused and resilient, assuring them that their past experiences should not determine the direction of their future.
“Your past should not define your future,” she said, urging the
