By Ngozi Nwankwo
In demonstration of its commitment to the improvement of Girl-child education and empowerment, the Kaduna State Government has officially launched the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, AGILE Project.
While lunching the AGILE Project, the Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai commended the State’s Project’s Implementing Unit, SPIU, led by Maryam Sani Dangaji, on its hardwork and dedication to the improvement of secondary education in the State.
The Governor noted that the hard work and dedication of the SPIU have made the AGILE Project the best performing project in the state.
The AGILE Project project is a World Bank assisted initiative of the Federal Government aimed at improving secondary
education and empowerment opportunities for adolescent girls in the current implementing states of Borno, Ekiti, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Plateau.
In his address, the World Bank Country Director, Shubham Chaudri, reiterated the Bank’s Development Agenda of enhancing the development and empowerment of Nigerian women and girls.
The Country Director represented by the AGILE Project’s Task Team Leader, TTL, Aisha Garba, emphasized that this Agenda is evidenced in its financing of the Project to the tune of 1.2 billion dollars, one of the Bank’s biggest education projects in West Africa.
Chaudri also commended the State Government “for
taking full ownership of the AGILE project,” a factor that has
contributed immensely to its commendable level of project implementation.
In her Welcome Address, the AGILE Project’s National Coordinator, Mrs. Amina Buba Haruna commended the state on the launch of the project.
The National Project Coordinator also commended the State on its level of project implementation and urged it not to relent on its efforts to achieve the AGILE Project’s development objectives.
Also, the State Commissioner for Education, Halima Lawal, represented by the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Education, Dr. Haliru Soba, applauded the State Government
for creating a conducive environment for the education sector to thrive.
The Commissioner expressed confidence that the incoming government will sustain the commitment of the outgoing administration to the growth and development of the education sector.
In her remarks, State Project Coordinator, AGILE Project, Maryam Sani Dongaji, appreciated the state government’s confidence in the SPIU’s ability to deliver on their mandate.
She also appreciated the Government for creating the needed
environment for the team and Project to succeed.
The State Project Coordinator subsequently pledged her commitment to the achievement of the AGILE Project’s objectives.