UBEC Reopens Doors for Dropout Girls, Young Mothers with Rehabilitated School in Lagos

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Nigeria has launched an initiative to reintegrate female dropouts, including teenage mothers and impoverished girls, back into the education system. This effort was made prominent during the inauguration of a new Alternative High School for Girls in Agboju, Lagos State, by UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba.

The school serves as a "second chance" for those who left school due to early pregnancies, financial difficulties, or other socio-economic challenges. Garba emphasized that a girl who drops out of school should not be considered a lost cause, and a young mother seeking to return to school should not have her opportunities limited.

The institution will not only facilitate the completion of secondary education but also equip students with vocational skills to prepare them for careers and self-reliance. UBEC's goal is to ensure that a girl's circumstances should not hinder her educational journey permanently.

On behalf of the First Lady, Nana Shettima, echoed the importance of educating girls for national development and encouraged the students to maximize the academic and vocational opportunities at the school, not letting their past define their future.

The newly renovated school in Agboju boasts 26 classrooms, laboratories for Agriculture, Physics, and Biology, vocational workshops for cosmetology, garment-making, hairdressing, catering, and home economics, a library, and an ICT center. Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, viewed the reopening as the beginning of a new chapter for the beneficiaries, stating that the refurbishment had restored the school's dignity and would provide wider opportunities for young women.

UBEC is also rehabilitating another Alternative High School for Girls in Ikorodu to further expand access to alternative education in Lagos. The Commission plans to continue collaborating with state governments and stakeholders to grow alternative education programs, enhance learning environments, and strengthen skills acquisition for girls and young women across Nigeria.

With upgraded academic, ICT, and vocational facilities, the project aims to offer a clear pathway for girls and young women unable to continue in traditional schools to return to learning and secure sustainable livelihoods.