The Kogi state government has commenced distribution of over 12,000 Autonated Teller Machine cards to students under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project in the state.
The distribution of ATM cards began with 5,218 students in Kogi East under the second cohort of the Conditional Cash Transfer programme for adolescent girls in secondary schools across the 21 local government areas in the state.
Speaking during the commencement of the exercise in Dekina Local Government Area, the AGILE Project Coordinator, Ahmed Tinaji Oricha, represented by the Team Lead, Engr. Musa Kunle, said the distribution of ATM cards is intended to reach 12,112 students across the 21 local government areas of the state
He noted that the first cohort of the programme in 2025 had 13,139 students, while the second cohort in 2026 comprises 12,112 students.
He explained that the students would receive a payment of N40,000 on the basis of a minimum of 70% attendance throughout the terms.
According to him, the students are required to maintain a 70 per cent school attendance rate to qualify for N10,000 allowance per term.
“Any student that covers 70 per cent will be eligible to collect the termly allowance, which is N10,000 per term,” he said.
He said the distribution would continue across the 21 local government areas, adding that payments were also being made to students who had met the required attendance criteria.
The Principal of UBE Junior Secondary School, Olubojo in Dekina Local Government Area, Usman Joseph, said he attended the exercise with his students and confirmed that all of them had received their ATM cards, while commending the AGILE Project for the initiative.
Similarly, the Vice Principal of Abeji Grammar School, Salifu Yunusa, commended the AGILE Project for supporting girls’ education.
He said the initiative would encourage more girls to enrol in school, while appreciating the Kogi State Government for supporting the programme and facilitating its implementation at the grassroots.
Other school heads and students also expressed appreciation to the Kogi State Government and the AGILE Project for supporting efforts to improve access to education in the state.
