By Awwal Umar Kontagora In a bid to improve secondary school enrollment and skills development among young girls, the Adolescent Girls Ini...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
In a bid to improve secondary school enrollment and skills development among young girls, the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), a non-governmental organization in Niger State, has launched a scholarship program to support girls’ education. The initiative aims to benefit approximately 300,000 girls across the 25 local government areas in Niger State through direct cash transfers to their families.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ sensitization meeting on the scholarship program in Minna, the Executive Director of Ilimi Children Fund, Hajiya Maryam Audi, shared the organization’s broader goal to extend scholarships to over one million girls across 17 states in Nigeria. Audi emphasized that out of the 30 million out-of-school children nationwide, 70 percent are girls aged between 10 and 19 years, highlighting the urgent need to address educational disparities.
Maryam Audi Abdurahim emphasized the importance of community support in educating girls, especially given the barriers faced by uneducated women. “Rather than seeing young girls on the streets, hawking or out of school, we aim to support their education and reduce the rate of out-of-school girls in our country,” she stated. Audi explained that the project’s cash transfer approach provides financial aid to families committed to keeping their daughters in school, significantly reducing economic barriers to education.
Audi added, “This support is free, but we have set specific requirements to ensure that girls attend at least 70 percent of their studies.” She highlighted that trained officers will monitor compliance and ensure proper utilization of the funds, with checks to verify the schools and attendance of the participating girls.
According to Audi, guardian details, whether a mother or father, will be recorded, and funds will be disbursed directly to these caregivers. “This way, even if poverty or financial constraints are the reasons for removing girls from school, families will have the resources to overcome such barriers,” she explained. She added that the program, targeting at least one million girls across 17 states, is determined to reach between 30,000 to 50,000 girls in Niger State alone.
Dr. Hadiza Asebe Mohammed, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, commended the scholarship initiative, noting its timeliness in addressing the rising number of out-of-school children. Represented by Director of Administration Hajara Zukoki, the commissioner stressed that empowering young girls through education is essential for societal progress. “This program is instrumental in helping young girls reach their full potential, especially as many drop out due to financial constraints. It aligns perfectly with current efforts to enhance girls’ education nationwide,” she added.
The scholarship program reflects AGILE’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s youth by addressing social and economic challenges that hinder girls’ education, paving the way for a brighter future for the next generation.
During the event, Hajiya Maimuna Ibrahim Tahir, Coordinator of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, emphasized the program’s goal to curb the high rate of girls dropping out after primary school due to poverty or lack of value placed on girls’ education. She noted that about 50 percent of girls do not proceed to secondary school, and one million girls drop out either in their first or last year of primary education. These dropout rates affect girls aged 10 to 19, who constitute 23 percent of the country’s population.
The AGILE Project, which focuses on providing scholarships and empowerment for girls, also aims to discourage early marriage, improve health outcomes, encourage self-reliance, and contribute to community economic development. Maimuna explained that the grant program will initially cover 15 out of 25 local governments in Niger State.
Speaking at the meeting, Hakimin Bosso, Alhaji Mu’azu Adamu Laka, commended the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in Niger State and AGILE for their commitment to advancing girls’ education and creating opportunities for a better life within the community. “Educating a woman opens up countless opportunities for a community’s growth because of the care and guidance they provide to young children,” he stated.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders in Niger State’s education sector, including the Commissioner of the Niger State Secondary Education Board, represented by Hajiya Hadiza Zukogi. Many informative articles and practical guides for benefiting from the program were presented during the session.
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