By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The Federal government of Nigeria has commenced preparations for the take-off of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for
Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project.
As part of activities heralding the take off, the National Project Coordinating Unit, (NPCU), has started visitations to the beneficiary States to ascertain their levels of implementation and progress.
The AGILE Project is a Federal Government’s 5-year initiative with support from the World Bank to improve secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls in the implementing states as well as empower them to earn their living.
Speaking when she led the NPCU to Ekiti State, the National Project Coordinator, Mrs. Amina Buba Haruna, said the team was in the State to find ways of assisting them to ensure effective project implementation for optimum results.
Mrs. Haruna reminded the team of the need for synergy amongst them, and with the
State Government so as to achieve the goals of the AGILE Project in the state.
The State’s Project Coordinator, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Alokan, took the NPCU officials to the Project’s construction sites to inspect and assess the standard of work done
especially in the utilisation of the School Improvement Grants (SIG), for the
renovation of existing infrastructure in schools in the State.
Mrs. Alokan gave some challenges faced by the State Project Implementing Unit, (SPIU), and efforts made to address them.
The visiting team also met with the State’s Commissioner for Education, and Permanent Secretary, Science and Technology, Ekiti State Ministry of Education, Dr. Kofoworola Aderiye, and Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, respectively and they pledged commitment to the success of the AGILE Project in the State.
In Katsina State, the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Mustapha Shehu, also took the NPCU team round the Project’s sites to get first hand information if the ongoing construction and renovation are in accordance with the World Bank’s prescribed standards.
The visiting team commended State’s Project Implementing Unit (SPIU) on the standard of work done so far and advised it to partner with the Ministry of Agriculture, and community youths on the planting of trees in the targeted schools to mitigate challenges of Climate Change.
The team later held a meeting with Katsina State’s Commissioner for Education,
Associate Professor Badamasi Charanchi who reiterated government’s commitment to the improvement of Girl-child education in the State.
Part of the facilities inspected in Ekiti and Katsina States include school buildings being constructed or renovated, laboratories, libraries, hostels and their Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, (WASH), facilities.
The AGILE Project has World Bank support to the tune of 500 million dollars with prospects of improved funding and the implementing States are Borno, Ekiti, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, and Plateau.
