SOKOTO (Sundiata Scholar) – The Sokoto State Government has sought the cooperation of education stakeholders to ensure optimal implementation of ‘Adolescent Girls Initiative Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project’ in the state.The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education,
Alhaji Tukur Alkali, made the call at a capacity building training for Education Managers organised by AGILE Project in collaboration with the ministry on Saturday in Sokoto.
Alkali, who was represented by Alhaji Altine Sifawa, pledged increased support to the project, noting that Gov.
Ahmad Aliyu, ensured timely payment of counterpart fund.“The present administration ensured highest budgetary allocation to education sector in 2024 budget in line with United Nations standard,” he said.In his address,
Dr Mansur Isa-Buhari, the Project Coordinator, said AGILE “is a Federal Government’s project supported by the World Bank, which focuses more on Northern Nigeria to encourage, positively reposition and change the statistics narratives of girls toward their education and future.”
Isa-Buhari noted with satisfaction that Sokoto had joined the implementing states and had so far renovated 367 Junior and Senior Secondary Schools across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
He added that no fewer than 64 education managers from ministries, agencies, schools, School Based Management Committee (SBMC) members and representatives of some civil society organisations were targeted at the training.The coordinator explained that participants would be trained on standard service delivery and other project contents in order the achieve the desired successes.
Isa-Buhari said the training was meant to appraise the previous situations of school environment, present students population, infrastructure, and also to review priorities and targets.“We will continue to work for the success of the project towards the attainment of 9-point agenda of Gov.
Aliyu administration in girls’ education and empowerment,” he said.According to him, the participants are dependable agents that will help AGILE counter the general misconception and negative perception about the activities of the project, particularly in the North.“
They are positive mobilisers that make impact on our communities and contribute to AGILE advocacy approach to commit the girl-child and parents to accepting the project with open mind.“
We are providing the window for the girl-child to have life skills in order to support themselves, their parents and their husbands through empowerment,” Isa-Buhari said.
The Deputy Project C oordinator, Alhaji Kabiru Garba, said presentations were lined-up to be delivered by experts, adding, “we expect discussion, delibration and offer solutions and ways to enhance the services.” (NAN)