“YOUR PAST DOES NOT DEFINE YOU” – FIRST LADY OLUREMI TINUBU
…As she commissions Alternative High School for Girls in Osogbo
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has encouraged girls who dropped out of school due to early pregnancy, abuse, domestic violence, or financial difficulties not to give up on achieving their lifelong dreams and goals.
She made this statement on Friday during the commissioning and formal handover of the Alternative High School for Girls in Osogbo, Osun State.
The facility, built in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), is part of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Access to Education for All Programme. According to the First Lady, it is designed to provide a second chance at formal education for girls in such circumstances.
“To the beneficiaries of this school, I want to say to you all: your past does not define you. This is another chance, another opportunity, and you must embrace it with determination and focus. Just believe in yourself and know there is light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu emphasized the importance of formal education for the girl child, saying: “Education empowers individuals to reach their full potential. It is not merely a privilege but a fundamental human right, regardless of gender or circumstance. Through this facility, we are not only giving these girls and women a second chance at formal education but also equipping them with life skills to rebuild their confidence, independence, and potential to contribute meaningfully to society. I would like to add that investing in women and girls’ education is investing in the future of our nation.”
The First Lady also expressed her unwavering commitment to the welfare and well-being of ordinary Nigerians, a quality she highlighted as a key attribute of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In his remarks, the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, praised the First Lady’s efforts, particularly through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
He noted that the initiative is truly living up to its mantra, “Towards a better life for families,” and expressed gratitude for the establishment of the school, which has now been handed over to the state government to manage.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmed, also commended the initiative, stating that the education of the girl child and the establishment of the Alternative High School for Girls are closely aligned with the nation’s efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).
The facility is well-equipped with a crèche, a skills acquisition center, and modern classrooms, among other amenities.
During the event, the First Lady also launched the RHI Economic Empowerment Programme, where 1,000 women in the state received various items and N50,000 business recapitalization grants.
She urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds to improve their livelihoods.
