Kogi State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, in collaboration with the Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), has conducted a statewide monitoring exercise in mass literacy centres across the 21 local government areas in the State.
Speaking on the initiative, the State Project Coordinator of Kogi AGILE, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Oricha, said the monitoring reflects the project’s commitment to ensuring quality implementation of alternative learning programmes for vulnerable girls across the state.
He noted that the initiative remains focused on tackling the challenge of out-of-school girls by providing inclusive learning opportunities that equip them with literacy, numeracy and life skills.
Oricha added that continuous monitoring and data-driven supervision are critical to the success of the programme, stressing that the introduction of standardized registers would strengthen documentation, promote transparency and support evidence-based reporting.
Also speaking, the Subcomponent Lead for Alternative Education, Mariam Bello, said the monitoring exercise was aimed at assessing the level of implementation of mass literacy centres and identifying operational gaps requiring attention.
According to her, monitoring teams interacted with facilitators, learners and community stakeholders during field visits to evaluate programme delivery, learner participation and the overall learning environment.
She explained that the standardized registers would enable facilitators to maintain accurate records of learners’ biodata, attendance and learning progress, thereby improving programme tracking and accountability.
Similarly, Executive Director of PIBCID, Rachel Akande, described the monitoring exercise as a vital step toward strengthening programme delivery at the community level.
Akande commended facilitators for their dedication and noted the growing enthusiasm among learners, particularly adolescent girls seeking opportunities to acquire literacy and life skills.
During the exercise, monitoring teams inspected learning environments, verified learner enrolment, reviewed teaching materials and lesson delivery methods, and held interactive sessions with facilitators and learners.
The teams also identified operational challenges in some centres, including inadequate learning materials, irregular attendance in some communities due to economic pressures and limited infrastructure in remote areas.
To address these challenges, the monitoring team recommended sustained supervision, provision of additional learning materials, continuous training for facilitators and increased community sensitization to improve learner retention.
