Girl- Child education panacea for Nation building — Oluremi Tinubu
By John Dike
The Wife of Nigerian president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the future of the nation rest on the need for proper education of Girl- child which she said is the panacea for Nation building.
She said there is no nation in the world that grows without education, hence the present administration of President Bola Tunibu has taken education as priority which must be taken seriously in the quest of developing the nation
The wife of the President spoke in Osogbo during the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the construction of an Alternative High School for Girls in Osun State.
Accompanied by other Nigerian first ladies during the visit she disclosed that the ceremony marks the beginning of an opportunity for a new chapter and chance of a promising future for the exceptional young girls and women who would walk through the doors of the school.
“I envisioned and introduced the idea for the establishment of an Alternative High School for Girls, a vision which was accepted and utilized by the Lagos State Ministry 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 life long 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 reach their full potentials in life.
“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, values education and has introduced the National Student Loan Scheme which is now in effect for our youth to have unhindered access to education, knowing that education is the bedrock of national development and the cornerstone upon which dreams are built, skills acquired and aspirations generally realized.
“In a world where every girl deserves the opportunity to thrive and reach her fullest potential, it is a sad thing to witness the barriers that stand in the way of their education. No doubt, without education, girls would lack necessary skills to support themselves and access information to make informed decisions about their health and future.
“The alarming rate of school dropouts among girls are a stark reminder of the need for alternative solutions in their educational pursuits. The consequences of this challenge are profound, affecting not only their individual lives, but also has attendant socio-economic implications for our Nation.
“We cannot afford to squander the potential and talents of half of our population. Ensuring access to inclusive and equitable quality education that fosters lifelong learning opportunities for everyone is essential, in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal 4 which is to “Ensure Inclusive and Equitable, Quality Education and Promote Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All”.
“I am delighted to be part of this crucial endeavour today. Let me also reiterate that Osun State was chosen as the location for this school through a transparent and unbiased raffle draw process at a strategic meeting with the State First Ladies. So, be rest assured that, the siting of this school here in Osogbo, emanated from a fair process and it is a divinely guided one.
“It is also worthy of note that today’s event will culminate into the launch of the #WeAreEqual Campaign in Nigeria, an initiative championed by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD).
” I am using education as a tool to promote the Campaign in Nigeria. This campaign recognizes that true equality requires equal access to education, and that educated women are the foundation of strong, prosperous societies.
The official launch date of the event will be in May, 2024 by the special grace of God.As we embark on this noble endeavour, let us remember the words of Nelson Mandela, who once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world
” I urge us to commit to this, knowing that with education, we can break the chains of poverty, ignorance, and inequality, by providing our women and girls with tools and resources to thrive and succeed.
“Very soon, by the special grace of God, we would be back here to officially commission a fully built and furnished school on the blocks we have laid today.
I thank the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke for swiftly providing us with a piece of land to embark on this noble project. My appreciation also goes to the First Lady of Osun State, Her Excellency, Mrs. Titilola Adeleke for her warm reception and support. I am grateful.
,I commend the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Hammid Bobboyi and his entire team for this and all the other Alternative High School projects the Commission has embarked upon. Good job.
Earlier ,the governor of Osun state Senator Ademola Adeleke whioe welcomimg the Nigerian first lady assure that our administration will follow up and provide needed support to ensure a robust operation upon completion of the school.
He said his administration is committed to supporting girl child education. We have introduced a series of programmes which strengthen the capacity of families to provide basic needs. Hence we emphasize workers welfare as a critical first line item in our five point agenda.
The ooni of ife Oba Enitan oguwusi Adeyeye who led other traditional Rulers welcom the first lady said described her as a unifier .
His words ” I want to use this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for always being there on behalf of all the traditional rulers, anytime I call on you you are always there. And I want to thank Almighty for your life the way our Governor said it that is very happy, I think am happier that you are here.
“It’s very obvious that you are a unifier in this country we can see all our First Ladies behind our powerful political leaders they are all sitting here, very gentle and amiable, they are the driving force behind all these political leaders that we are. But you unifier in the sense that we have different political parties here, we have Labor Party, APC, and PDP Governors’ wives here.”.
