The Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, has described the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, AGILE, project being implemented in 11 states with additional financing of $700 million as the largest girls’ educational project in Africa.
Opiah, who spoke during an event in Abuja said the ultimate aim is for the AGILE project to benefit 40 million Nigerians, providing young girls with quality functional education, skills and opportunities for self-reliance and wealth creation.
“Currently, the Project is being implemented in seven States of Borno, Ekiti, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Plateau. Machineries have been put in place to expand this to eleven 11 additional States as a result of the successes recorded so far in the few months of project implementation with additional financing of $700 million making it the largest girls project in Africa,” the minister said.
He expressed happiness that within the first one year of implementation, AGILE has recorded milestones as “over 3 million beneficiaries have been reached in the 7 implementing states, 5,257 classrooms have been renovated and now in use across the 7 States; 84,000 teaching and learning materials delivered to schools and in use by learners; 6, 704 WASH facilities constructed with separate toilets for boys and girls; 6,000 girls to undergo training on life skills and digital literacy; 199,921 girls have received scholarship to help them stay in school in implementing States.
“We are making sure that these efforts align with existing government programmes so that they can seamlessly work together to enhance the growth of institutions and the attainment of our education goals,” he said.
Opia also noted in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media and Public Affairs, Kelechi Mejuobi, that the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, NERGP of the Nigerian Government in the education sector is aimed at ensuring quality universal education for Nigeria’s children and youth.
He said that amongst other things, the NERGP is targeted at elevating the cause of youths in Nigeria, especially the girl-child and womenfolk.
He also disclosed that the theme of this year’s conference; “Innovation and Technological Change, and Education in the Digital Age for Achieving Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls” is quite apt as it aligns with Nigeria Government’s priorities in the NERGP, targeted also at increasing the number of youths and adults with the skills required to secure employment or become entrepreneurs. Prioritizing education for girls is a major part of it.
