Sokoto First Lady Empowers Over 41,000 Girls Through Cash Grant Programme

By Agency Report

The wife of the Sokoto State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Aliyu, on Thursday flagged off the disbursement of cash grants to 41,821 female students under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project.

The initiative, implemented as a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme, aims to enhance girl-child education in the state by providing financial support to students, helping them overcome economic challenges that could interrupt their schooling.

Speaking at the launch, Hajiya Aliyu said the programme is pivotal in boosting secondary school enrolment and ensuring more girls remain in school.

“I am delighted that the AGILE project continues to reduce the number of out-of-school children and increase educational opportunities for adolescent girls. By investing in their education, we are building a more equitable and prosperous society,” she said.

The National Coordinator of AGILE, Ms. Fatima Buba-Haruna, noted that the CCT initiative was central to boosting enrolment, retention, and transition of girls in public secondary schools. She said the expansion of the programme to other states demonstrates its impact and commitment to ensuring sustainable education interventions.

Dr. Mansur Isa-Buhari, Programme Coordinator, highlighted the infrastructural and learning improvements under AGILE, including the renovation of 749 classrooms, provision of 11,221 student desks, installation of 214 solar-powered boreholes, construction of 1,652 toilet facilities, and planting of 4,480 trees.

He added that 11,325 adolescent girls have participated in safe space activities, 97,446 teaching and learning materials have been provided, and 2,240 School-Based Management Committee members trained to support the project’s objectives.

Dr. Isa-Buhari said, “Our mission is not just to enrol children in schools but to ensure they learn, grow, and thrive in safe, inclusive, and stimulating environments.” He commended Governor Ahmad Aliyu for his support and urged parents to ensure their daughters’ regular school attendance.

The initiative, which previously provided N40,000 grants to girls in Kogi State, continues to empower girls and dismantle socio-economic barriers preventing school attendance. By the end of the project, Sokoto expects to have empowered over 200,000 girls across the state.

Parents at the event described AGILE as a beacon of hope for the girls and called for full community support to sustain the programme.

Olayinka Babatunde