5 days ago
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Kogi State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment Project (AGILE) has emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the AGILE project in the state.
Coordinator of Kogi AGILE, Dr. Abdulhakeem Bello, stated this during an interactive session with participants on Sensitization strategies, held Monday in Lokoja the state capital
Dr Bello told the participants that AGILE Project is a world bank assistant project of the Federal Ministry of Education geared towards improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls aged between 10 and 20.
According to him , adolescent girls in Nigeria are generally faced with challenges that prevent them from accessing and completing secondary education due to socio-cultural, financial constraints, and infrastructural deficits
“The AGILE Project is meant to improve secondary education opportunities in implementing states by tackling these challenges, thus making education more appealing to adolescent girls, parents, communities, and institutions
He stated that the Project Development Objective is to improve secondary education opportunities among girls in the participating states by addressing the specific socio-cultural/religious norms and other constraints that hinder parents/guardians from allowing their female children/wards from accessing and completing secondary education.
“We are determined to foster an enabling environment for girls, promoting their social and behaviour change through communications campaigns, engagement with traditional rulers and advocacy, empowering girls with critical life skills knowledge for navigating adulthood and digital literacy skills as well as providing financial incentives and scholarship to the poorest households.
“We need the collective support and collaboration of all stakeholders to ensure the seamless implementation of this project across Kogi State. This initiative is not just about building structures; it is about shaping the future of our girls by equipping them with knowledge, skills, and character to navigate adulthood successfully,” Abdulhakeem added.
He listed part of the implementation intervention, for AGILE Project in Kogi state to include, construction of classroom, laboratory and toiletries blocks in all existing government schools, renovation of government colleges, equipment of computer laboratories in selected government schools, training of teachers and girls on life expectancy, provision of second chance education out of school girls and scholarship for poor households among others.
Also speaking, Kogi AGILE’s Media and Communication Specialist, Bishop Aturu, stressed the need for accurate and reliable data to aid effective planning and ensure a smooth implementation process.
“We are seeking the buy-in and support of various stakeholders, including parents, teachers, communities, religious and traditional leaders, media organizations, and NGOs. Their involvement will help us address potential challenges, enhance community engagement, and ensure that key messages reach the grassroots,” Aturu said.
Representative of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), Ibrahim Daniel Arome who is the immediate past Chairman of the Kogi State Board of Disability, in his goodwill message lauded AGILE for prioritizing inclusivity.
He called for the establishment of a school for the Deaf and Dumb in the state and the construction of infrastructure that ensures accessibility for PWDs.
The event had in attendance representatives from NGOs, religious and traditional institutions, FIDA, media organizations, government agencies, women’s groups, and other key stakeholders.
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