The Kogi State Government has commenced the second phase of enrollment for the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) component of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, aimed at encouraging girl-child education across the state.
The State Project Coordinator, Ahmed Tijani Oricha, who led a field assessment of the ongoing exercise on Monday, said the initiative is focused on identifying and enrolling additional eligible schoolgirls who were not captured during the first phase conducted in 2024.
Tijani explained that the AGILE project, supported by the World Bank, seeks to empower adolescent girls through education and life skills.
He stated that girls who attain at least 70 percent school attendance will receive financial incentives to motivate them to stay in school and complete their education.
Tijani noted that bank accounts will be created for all qualified beneficiaries, with funds disbursed electronically, while parents or guardians will serve as custodians of the accounts since the beneficiaries are minors.
The Coordinator commended the consultants for their dedication and lauded Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his unwavering support towards the success of the AGILE project in the state.
He also expressed appreciation to the World Bank for supporting a life-changing initiative that is improving the educational outlook for girls in Kogi State.
Tijani urged eligible girls in post-primary schools to embrace the opportunity, adding that the state government remains committed to providing conducive learning environment to support the growth and development of every girl child.
Also speaking, one of the consultants to the AGILE project, Richard Alabi, disclosed that over 20,000 girls across 646 schools were enrolled during the first phase.
He described the current enrollment as part of a broader six-year intervention targeted at removing barriers to girl child education.
In his remarks, the Vice Principal of UBE Holy Trinity School, Lokoja, Mr. Usman Yakubu Ndah, commended the government and the AGILE team for the progress made.
He revealed that over 30 girls from the school have enrolled as a result of the initiative by AGILE in the state.
