Damaturu: No fewer than 40,630 secondary school girls in Yobe are set to benefit from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE-AF) project. This initiative marks the first cohort of the CCT component aimed at supporting girls transitioning within the educational system.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdullahi Bula, the project’s coordinator in the state, shared details about the initiative. The beneficiaries are primarily girls moving from primary six to Junior Secondary (JS) 1 and from JS 3 to Senior Secondary (SS) 1. Each girl will receive over N60,000 annually to address the financial needs associated with these transitions, including the purchase of uniforms, bags, and sandals.
“The incentive is called CCT because it will be paid on the condition of school attendance,” Bula explained. Payments will be made for each school term, provided the students maintain at least 70 percent attendance. This initiative has already shown positive results, with enrolment in SS1 and JS1 increasing by over 10,000 students between 2024 and 2025.
The AGILE-AF project, which began in March 2024 in Yobe, is a five-year endeavor funded by a World Bank loan. Yobe, along with ten other states, will access $700 million for the project through a basket funding system. The initial set of AGILE beneficiary states received $500 million, including Borno, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Plateau, Ekiti, and Kaduna. Yobe and other states joining later will draw funds based on performance and approved limits.
As part of the state’s work plan, Bula noted that 50 new senior and junior girls’ secondary schools are planned for construction across Yobe’s 17 local government areas. In collaboration with School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), the project will also renovate 225 senior and junior secondary schools. SBMCs have been trained in developing School Improvement Plans, with funds allocated for school renovations.
Additionally, non-formal learning centers will be established to offer ‘second chances’ to girls who left school for marriage or other reasons, providing education in literacy, numeracy, and vocational skills. These centers will also supply starter packs for business initiatives.
Bula highlighted that AGILE’s activities include behavioral change communication, life skills development, and system strengthening and monitoring. The project aims to increase opportunities for girls to complete their secondary education, addressing issues such as street roaming and hawking among girls.
“This project aims to ensure the enrolment, retention, and completion of secondary education by girls,” Bula emphasized, noting the critical need for such initiatives in the community.