Kano: The Kano state Government in North West Nigeria has extended the campaign of second-chance education for out-of-school women and adolescent girls to local communities. Determined to ensure improved enrollment, retention, and completion of secondary school, the government rolled out financial assistance through conditional cash transfers to pupils and students.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the program is under the Adolescent Girls Initiatives for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, championed by the state Ministry of Education. The AGILE Project is a World Bank-assisted project of the Federal Ministry of Education aimed at improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls aged between 10 and 20.
At a stakeholder sensitization engagement in Ajingi and Kunchi Local Governments, the Special Assistant to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Education, Malam Kabiru Isa Usman, reiterated the government’s determination to ensure that women are given a second chance to obtain Western education.
He explained that the conditional cash transfer was designed to provide succor to less privileged families and retain students, highlighting the state’s commitment to providing free uniforms, desks, books, and other educational support.
The Coordinator of AGILE Scholarship Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), Hajiya Maryam Kabir, informed parents and students that support from AGILE is intended to complement their efforts in education and is not meant for personal use. She emphasized the proper utilization of the CCT assistance until the completion of secondary school, expressing satisfaction with the commitment and seriousness shown by the participants.
Hajiya Abu Umar, the Director of Mobilization at the Agency for Mass Education Kano state, highlighted the importance of educating a girl child, describing it as a societal treasure. She encouraged both parents and students to maximize the opportunity provided by the Kano state Government, urging women to pursue education even after marriage.
Hajiya Halima Tuk
ur, Director of Education Support Services from the Kano State Ministry of Education, expressed confidence that AGILE’s activities would soon eradicate the issue of out-of-school children in Kano state. The District Head of Gaya, Alhaji Wada Aliyu, represented by Abdulqadir Abdullahi, along with other speakers, praised the Kano state Government’s initiative in addressing the challenges faced by out-of-school children and improving education for adolescent girls.