Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has launched a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme aimed at supporting over 13,000 adolescent girls in secondary school, under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Government House in Lokoja, Governor Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to prioritize education and empowerment, particularly for women and girls.
“This project is not just about financial assistance—it is a deliberate investment in our girls, our communities, and our future,” the Governor said.
The initiative will see each beneficiary receive ₦40,000 to help ease the cost of schooling, improve retention, and support smooth transition to higher levels of education.
Governor Ododo highlighted that Kogi State remains one of the top-performing states in terms of low out-of-school rates and attributed the state’s inclusion in the World Bank-backed AGILE programme to the foresight of his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.
He urged beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly and encouraged parents to continue supporting their daughters’ education.
The Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, commended the Governor’s leadership and called on parents to take active roles in their children’s academic lives.
“This administration continues to attract meaningful projects like AGILE. We must all play our part in making it a success,” he said.
The AGILE State Project Coordinator, Ahmed Tijani Oricha, explained that the programme also seeks to eliminate sociocultural and financial barriers that force girls out of school. He noted that only girls with at least 75% school attendance qualify for the grants.
Traditional institutions also declared their support. The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Muhammed Anaje, pledged the full backing of royal fathers for the project, describing girls as “the hope of tomorrow.”
A student beneficiary, Fatima Zahara Salawudeen, speaking on behalf of over 30,000 girls benefiting from AGILE initiatives across the state, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and praised the Governor’s commitment to free education across Kogi’s 21 LGAs.
The Conditional Cash Transfer scheme under AGILE is part of the Ododo administration’s broader agenda to build inclusive, equitable and future-focused education systems, using targeted interventions to remove obstacles and empower the next generation of Kogi girls.
