The Kogi State government has continued the disbursement of N534,360,000 Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) grants to 13, 359 school girls, following the earlier flag-off of the scheme.
The Adolescent Girls initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) is aimed at enhancing school enrollment, retention, and transition for adolescent girls, thereby strengthening their contribution to the state’s social and economic development.
The AGILE team on Wednesday at GYB Model Science Secondary School (GYBMSS), Lokoja, issued preloaded ATM cards to parents and guardians of beneficiaries
Speaking at the event, Ahmed Oricha, Kogi State Project Coordinator, commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for keeping to his promise of ensuring that ATM cards are distributed across the state to all beneficiaries, stressing that the disbursement was not a one -off, but a follow-up activity towards the governor’s pledge that the AGILE-CCT initiative will be sustained as a continuous intervention under the AGILE project.
He pointed out that the project would provide a cash grant of N40,000 each to 13,359 adolescent girls in transition classes across the state, with the goal of dismantling financial and socio -cultural barriers preventing girls from attending school.
Oricha urged school girls to maintain regular school attendance, while calling on parents to ensure the funds are used strictly for their children’s education.
Richard Alabi, lead consultant, reiterated that the account linked to the ATM card is a dedicated wallet for AGILE fund disbursement and must not be diverted for other uses, as he emphasized that beneficiaries must sustain at least 70 percent school attendance to continue enjoying the scheme, while also cautioning parents against paying any form of processing fees, as the government has fully covered the costs.
Kunle Musa, CCT lead, explained that the disbursement is being carried out in batches until all 13,359 beneficiaries receive their funds.
Jennifer Efe, UBA branch manager, lauded the state government’s commitment to prioritizing education through the AGILE-CCT programme, noting that Kogi is among the first states to begin actual implementation, as she encouraged parents to use the funds appropriately for their children’s education and advised them to consider opening a separate savings account for future planning.
Godwin Ajofe Yakubu, principal of GYBMSSS, commended Governor Ododo for making education a priority and ensuring that girls are not left behind. He expressed appreciation to stakeholders for their support in making the project successful.
Parents and beneficiaries also expressed their gratitude. Mariam Paul, a parent, said: “I have received N40,000 on behalf of my daughter through the ATM card that was given to us. We are grateful to the government, AGILE and all stakeholders for this support.”
