By Aturu Bishop
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving school enrollment and retention for adolescent girls through the implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project.
Speaking on Monday in Lokoja during the official flag-off ceremony, Governor Ododo described the AGILE project as a strategic intervention aimed at promoting inclusive, quality, and safe education for girls in Kogi State.
According to the Governor, a total of N40,000 will be disbursed to each of the 13,359 beneficiaries all adolescent girls in transition classes as a financial incentive to keep them in school and support their educational journey.
“The AGILE-CCT is more than financial support. It is a long-term investment in human capital development,” Ododo stated. “An educated girl is not just an empowered individual but also a catalyst for national development. Empowering the girl-child is synonymous with empowering families, strengthening communities, and advancing our nation.”
Governor Ododo further emphasized that his administration would continue to prioritize the welfare of women and girls, assuring that education would remain a key pillar of his government’s development strategy.
He also acknowledged his predecessor, former Governor Yahaya Bello, for securing Kogi State’s inclusion in the World Bank-supported AGILE project, which has positioned the state among those with the lowest number of out-of-school children nationwide.
The Governor urged beneficiaries to utilize the funds responsibly, describing the grant as a stepping stone towards a brighter future.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, praised Governor Ododo for sustaining and expanding educational reforms. He called on parents to stay actively engaged in their children's learning, while advising the girls to attend school consistently.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator of AGILE, Mr. Ahmed Oricha, explained that the CCT was introduced to eliminate financial and cultural barriers to girls' education. He noted that only girls who maintained at least 75% attendance would qualify for the grant under the second cohort.
The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Anaje, expressed the support of traditional institutions for the initiative, affirming the importance of sustained investment in girl-child development.
One of the beneficiaries, Fatima Salawudeen, thanked the Governor and all stakeholders for the opportunity and lauded the administration’s commitment to free education and counterpart funding for the AGILE project.
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