Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed concerns over the alarming rate of dropouts among Nigerians, specifically girls.
She further noted that the result motivated her to develop ideas that could cater for the educational needs of that category of people.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Alternative High School for Girls’ turning-of-the-sod ceremony in Osogbo, Osun State, Tinubu said that her initiative was inspired by her wish to give young girls and women who dropped out of school due to unplanned pregnancies, cultural barriers, or financial difficulties another opportunity to finish high school.
The president’s wife recalled that she introduced the idea for the establishment of an Alternative High School for Girls, which was accepted and utilised by the Lagos State Ministry of Education in 2007 during her husband’s tenure as the Governor of Lagos State.
Noting that the consequences of the challenge of an alarming rate of school dropout among the girls occasioned by unplanned pregnancies among others are profound, Tinubu added that the effects would affect, not only the life of the individuals involved but would also have attendant socio-economic implications for the country.
She further said Osun State was chosen as the site for the school through a raffle, and commended the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, for donating land for the project.
She said, “I envisioned and introduced the idea for the establishment of an Alternative High School for Girls, a vision which was accepted and utilised by the Lagos State Ministry of Education in 2007 when my husband was the Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 and this particular school still runs till date.
“My motivation as an educationist and lifelong teacher stemmed from the desire to see young girls and women who dropped out of school due to unplanned pregnancies, cultural barriers, economic or financial reasons and many more, have a second chance to complete high school, acquire higher education and valuable life skills, to enable them to reach their full potential in life.”
Giving further details about how the school would operate, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, said that when completed, the school would have workshops for entrepreneurial training in the vocational trades like Fashion Design and Tailoring Home Economics and Catering.
“It would have a laboratory equipped with Desktop computers and tablets to provide digital literacy to all learners and enhance access and utilisation of digital resources.
“In addition to these, there is provision for fully furnished and equipped classrooms and Nursery play area for the Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE). It is expected that women who will be enrolled in the school will be accompanied by young children of nursery school age.
According to him, the facility will not only allow the mothers to concentrate on their program, but it will also entice the young children to learn how to learn and provide the foundation they require to excel in their educational careers.
He noted that the other supporting facilities to be provided in the school include a cafeteria, sickbay, staff rooms, and other offices designed to provide a conducive work environment and support teaching and learning.
In his remarks, Governor Adeleke declared support saying the state is undergoing total transformation with the women at the heart of the agenda of his administration.
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