By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
THE Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), a World Bank supported Project, is soon to embark on renovation of over 150 secondary schools as part of its intervention across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
Dr Abdulhakeem Bello, Kogi Project Coordinator of AGILE who disclosed while on a collaborative visit to state House of Assembly at the Assembly Complex in Lokoja.
He said that the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration and seeking legislative interventions that would promote and sustain adolescent girls’ education in the state.
“I am here to interface with the State House of Assembly with my team. As the Project Coordinator, I came for a collaborative visit and for us to have synergy on the project AGILE with Kogi House of Assembly..
He said that Kogi State happened to be part of the 11 states added to the earlier seven states that were able to harness or access the loan from the World Bank to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
According to Dr Bello, Kogi state stands to benefit a lot from the AGILE Project saying that it would embark on construction of new structures for junior and Senior secondary schools and as well, renovate all junior and secondary schools in the state.
“Our goal is to eliminate the barriers preventing girls from completing secondary education by addressing critical challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, economic hardships, and socio-cultural constraints,” he stated.
“This first year, we intend to renovate 150 secondary schools and we will be increasing it as the year progresses. This is just a few of our interventions that we intend to carryout in the state.
“Kogi State AGILE also intends to empower poor household girls with conditional cash transfer of amounts ranging from N10,000 to N50,000 during transition from Class 6 to JSS1, JSS3 to SS1 and even while in school, their graduation will be monitored.
“And before they graduate, during their stay in the school they will be equipped with necessary skills, life skills and the digital literacy skills that will make them viable and productive girls when they graduate from Secondary Schools.
The Mission and the Vision of AGILE in Kogi State is to enhance education among adolescent girls in all public schools across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
“It is domiciled in the state Ministry of Education with Ministries of Women Affairs, Health, Youth and Sports as implementing partners.
Responding, Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, commended the State Coordinator saying investing in Girl Child Education was key to the state’s socio-economic development of any society.
“We recognize the transformative impact of educating the girl child. This Assembly is fully committed to providing legislative backing to policies that will ensure the success of AGILE in Kogi State”, Speaker Yusuf declared. (Ends)