The Ministry of Youth Development in Nigeria has pledged unwavering support for the success of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment AGILE programme.
The Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, expressed this commitment during a courtesy visit by the National Coordinator of AGILE Project, Mrs. Amina Haruna, and her delegation in Abuja.
AGILE, a World Bank-assisted initiative, focuses on enhancing secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls aged 10 to 20.
The Minister emphasised the importance of laying a strong foundation and assured the ministry’s full backing for the AGILE Project’s success.
“We’re very happy that the project is focused on girls, but this also shows you how powerful the girl child is,” said Dr. Jamila,
The AGILE Project, operational in seven states—Borno, Ekiti, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Plateau—aims to create safe and accessible learning spaces. Renovations, building new facilities, and recruiting teachers are key components of the project’s scope.
Mrs. Amina Haruna, National Coordinator of the AGILE Project, commended Minister Jamila for her immense support and dedication to the girl child education initiative.
She emphasized the inclusive approach of the project, addressing challenges such as distance and enrollment, with a focus on recruiting more female teachers.
. The AGILE Project promotes an inclusive education system, extending support to boys who have dropped out or never attended school, as well as children with disabilities.
Financial incentives, including 5000 naira per term for beneficiaries, aim to encourage inclusive education.
The AGILE Project also collaborates with the Ministry of Education to strengthen systems and support youth development activities.
In a remark Dr. Umar Dunoma, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development, also affirmed the ministry’s commitment to the project, recognizing that the target age group will eventually transition into youth.
The AGILE Project, with a lifespan of five years and a closing date in 2028, addresses socio-cultural, financial, and infrastructural challenges faced by adolescent girls in Nigeria, making secondary education more accessible and appealing.
The collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Youth Development and AGILE aim to achieve the desired results and targets for the project’s beneficiaries.
Dominica Nwabufo
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