AGILE targets 235,274 adolescent girls Scholarship programme in Nasarawa

By David Odama

The Nasarawa state Project Coordinator of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, (AGILE) has said it is targeting 235,274 girls adolescent under the Girls Scholarship programme,GSP in Nasarawa state.

State Project Coordinator, Aishatu Aliyu Isoga stated this at the end of the zonal sensitization and awareness meeting held in Keffi for Nasarawa Western Senatorial DIstrict.

Aishatu Aliyu informed participants drawn from among schools principals, head teachers, Chief Education Officers, Education Secretaries, Parents, Youth and Women leaders as well as religion leaders, that AGILE is essentially designed to empower the girl child through education, providing them with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive through life.

“The state has a target of 235, 274 beneficiaries under the Component 2.3,(Conditional Cash Transfer) which is the highest for the Additional Financing States. You can therefore see the need for us to embark on massive enrolment drive and campaign to maximise the impact of this project on the girls, families, communities and the State at large, she stated.

“The Girls Scholarship Programme is a key component of this initiative which aimed at the less privilege and those with special needs to enrol and maintain regular attendance in school”, the PC said.

According to the project coordinator, the project is not just about providing financial assistance, but also about empowering girls to overcome socio-economic and cultural barriers that often lead to their dropout from school.

Hajiya Isoga said the meeting was organized to sensitized major stakeholders on the roles they need to play in making the GSP a success.

“Together, we must ensure that the scholarship programme reaches those who need it most; and that we continue to raise awareness on the importance of girls education and empowerment in every forum, using every bit of opportunity.

While announcing that only seven LGAs are selected to benefit from the programme in the first phase of the girls scholarship which is expected to be scaled up in 2025, said however that the state is benefiting in the othe components of the programmes.

In a paper presentation titled AGILE Financial Incentive ( Girls Scholarship Programme), Mr Ubini Andrews, a Game Changer highlighted the objectives, eligibilty and benefits of the programme on the girl child education drive, and discussed implementation strategies as well as Fund Disbursement among several other things.

Earlier in a paper title “Importance of Girls Education and Challenges Facing Adolescent Girls in Education”, Mrs Ramatu Umar identified several factors that limits the girl child education.

Mrs Umar enumerated some of the factors to include stereotype belief that educating the girl child ends in the kitchen and so waste of resources, Early marriage, Lack of clement school environment such as poor infra structure , harassment from school teacher, family poor economic base and socio- Cultural barriers.

She however expressed optimism that the current efforts by AGILE supported by World Bank and the State government they situation looks bright as most of the issues are being addressed citing the scholarship programme as well as infrastructure improvement.

She called for sustained awareness and sensitization creation on the importance of the girl education until every girl child receives education at least up to senior secondary school level.

The One day zonal sensitisation and Awareness meeting which took place at WWF Int’l Conference Centre & Suites Keffi, climaxed a five day programme which began with traditional, rulers, religion and community leaders and later with zonal leaders and other stakeholders drew stakeholders from Kokona, Nassarawa, Karu, Keffi and Toto LGAs.