The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, has said no child’s circumstances should prevent them from accessing quality education.

Garba stated this during the commissioning of the rehabilitated Alternative High School for Girls in Agboju, Lagos State.

She said every Nigerian child deserved an opportunity to learn, develop their abilities and fulfil their potential, regardless of their circumstances.

According to her, the rehabilitation of the school, supported by UBEC through its UBE direct intervention, was more than an infrastructure project, as it offered a fresh opportunity to girls and young women whose education had been interrupted.

Garba stressed that girls who dropped out of school should not be regarded as lost causes, while young mothers seeking to return to school should not be made to feel that they had missed their opportunity.

She said the Alternative High School for Girls was established to provide girls and young women with opportunities to return to learning, acquire relevant skills and pursue productive lives.

The UBEC boss urged stakeholders to ensure that the school becomes a place where hope is restored, confidence is built and the future of the girls is renewed.

Garba commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising education and human capital development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

She also applauded the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her commitment to the education and empowerment of girls and young women.

Represented at the occasion by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady, according to Garba, had continued to inspire initiatives aimed at ensuring that no child was left behind.

She said children affected by conflict, displacement and other difficult circumstances still had dreams, talents and potential that must be nurtured.

Garba said the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, NESRI, was implementing reforms aimed at improving education quality, expanding access and ensuring inclusive learning opportunities.

She noted that the Agboju school rehabilitation included infrastructure, academic facilities, furniture, ICT equipment, laboratory and vocational equipment, WASH facilities and environmental improvements.

Garba said UBEC had formally handed over the rehabilitated facility to the Lagos State Government, urging the state to sustain the investment and ensure proper maintenance of the facilities.

She disclosed that the second Alternative High School for Girls in Ikorodu was at an advanced stage of completion and would further expand opportunities for girls seeking alternative pathways back into education.

The UBEC boss also announced that the Commission would provide a school bus and digital smart boards for the classrooms before the end of 2026.

Garba, however, said the real measure of the intervention would not be the appearance of the school but its impact on the lives of the girls.

She said success would be measured by girls who acquire skills, secure employment, establish businesses and emerge as leaders in their communities.

She urged the Agboju community to take ownership of the school by protecting and maintaining its facilities and supporting the girls enrolled in the institution.