Kogi State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project on Monday flagged off a five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on the Safe Spaces Manual aimed at empowering young girls through structured psychosocial support and life skills education.

The event, which held at the AGILE Project Office in Lokoja, attracted stakeholders, facilitators, and development partners committed to improving the wellbeing and confidence of young girls in the state.

Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, while declaring the training open said the state government is committed to equipping adolescent girls with the necessary tools to thrive beyond academics, stressing that the initiative would go a long way in shaping the future of the girl-child in Kogi State.

READ ALSO, Gov. Ododo Urges Ajaokuta Stakeholders to Unite for Development

Hon. Jones, who lauded the leadership of the newly appointed State Project Coordinator, Alh. Ahmed Tijani Oricha, for hitting the ground running, also praised the implementing partner New Initiative for Social Development (NISD) for its professionalism.

“This training is a turning point for our education sector. We are not just building classrooms; we are building lives and minds,” he said.

Also speaking, the Project Coordinator of Kogi AGILE, Alh. Ahmed Tijani Oricha described the Safe Spaces Manual as a life changing resource designed to help adolescent girls develop confidence, resilience, and leadership qualities.

“We are preparing facilitators not only to train but to inspire. These girls need mentors, and that’s exactly what we are creating here.”

He thanked the World Bank and the National Project Coordination Unit (NPCU) for their continued partnership and called on trainers to approach their role with seriousness and compassion.

Similarly, Mr. Abraham Sunday, Component Lead representing the World Bank and NPCU, congratulated the Kogi AGILE team for demonstrating strong ownership and commitment emphasizing the importance of sticking to the content of the Safe Spaces Manual and maintaining professionalism during the cascade training.

VIDEO: ODODO DECLARES KOGI STRONGHOLD FOR TINUBU’S 2027 BID

“This initiative provides safe and supportive spaces for adolescent girls to express themselves, build life skills, and thrive emotionally and socially,” he said.

He added that the training would cover areas such as emotional intelligence, mentorship, communication, teamwork, and ethical engagement with adolescent girls.

The training, which is under the Life Skills Component of AGILE, is part of efforts to reduce barriers to education and improve learning outcomes for girls across the state.