Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the President, voiced her concerns on Tuesday regarding the troubling trend of school dropouts, particularly among girls, across the nation. She expressed her deep-seated desire to address this issue by enabling young girls and women who were forced to abandon their education due to various factors such as unplanned pregnancies, cultural barriers, or financial constraints, to re-enter the educational system and complete their schooling.
Speaking at the turning-of-sod ceremony of the Alternative High School for Girls in Osogbo, Osun State, Senator Tinubu recalled her pivotal role in conceptualizing and advocating for the establishment of such schools. She highlighted that the initiative was first implemented by the Lagos State Ministry of Education in 2007 during her husband’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State, and she commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for his support in providing land for the project in Osun State.
Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, provided detailed insights into the operational framework of the Alternative High School for Girls. He outlined various features, including specialized workshops for vocational training in fields like fashion design, home economics, and catering. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of digital literacy, noting that the school would be equipped with laboratories containing desktop computers and tablets to facilitate learning and access to digital resources.
Furthermore, the school would boast fully furnished classrooms and a nursery play area to accommodate young children of enrolled women, ensuring that mothers can focus on their studies while providing a conducive environment for their children’s early development. Other supporting facilities, such as a cafeteria, a sickbay, and staff rooms, were also highlighted to provide a comprehensive and supportive infrastructure for teaching and learning.
Governor Adeleke reiterated his commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and emphasized the pivotal role of women in driving the transformational agenda in Osun State. He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to empowering women and ensuring their active participation in the state’s development initiatives.
