Kwara AGILE to Enhance Learning Experience - Modibbo-Kawu

(R-L (front) Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Iman represented by Perm. Sec Health, Dr. Ayinla Abubakar ; Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bola Olukoju; Commissioner for Social Development, Hon. Opeyemi Oluwakemi Afolashade; S.A. Education, Dr. Adetola Salau; Commissioner for Education, Dr. Sa'adatu Modibbo-Kawu; Commissioner for Environment, Mall. Shehu Ndanusa Usman; SUBEB Chairman, Prof. Raheem Adaramaja; Perm Sec. Education, Mrs. Rebecca Bake Olanrewaju; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Olaitan Abosede Buraimoh represented by DPFS, Mrs. Ishola Maryam Idowu; R-L (Back) Project Coordinator, Kwara AGILE, Mr. Adeshina Azeez Salami and other members of the SPSC at the meeting.)

....As steering committee holds inaugural meeting

....All public secondary schools to undergo rehabilitation, numerous benefits for public schools 

The Kwara State government has re-echoed its commitment to solving deficiencies in the education sector by encouraging girls in public secondary schools to enrol and remain in schools for the duration of their studies. 

This was revealed by the Commissioner for Education and Chairman, Steering Committee of the Adolescent Girls' Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, Hon. Sa'adatu Modibbo-Kawu at the inaugural meeting of the State Project Steering Committee (SPSC) which was held during the week at the conference hall of Fresh Hotels, Fate Road, Ilorin. 

Hon. Modibbo-Kawu, while appreciating Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and Chairman, Nigeria Governors' Forum for his keen attention and interest in the development of females in Kwara State, with his significant gender parity bill achievement, noted that the Governor showed interest and facilitated the AGILE project to the State when he realized the immense benefits it would bring to Kwarans.

"The AGILE project will help in constructing new schools where needed, and rehabilitating existing ones. I am also delighted to say that all public secondary schools in Kwara State will undergo rehabilitation courtesy of the Project. Under AGILE, there will be digital literacy, second-chance education, Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) services, among others. 

"Kwara State is known as being one of the best in education and not too long ago, six of our public school students came top in the 63rd edition of the presidential debate competition and will represent Nigeria at the World Schools Debate Championship in the Republic of Serbia in Europe later this year.

"If we do more for this noble sector of ours, we will definitely see more positive results, even greater than what we have been seeing," the Commissioner added. 

Hon. Modibbo-Kawu congratulated the committee members for being chosen to monitor the project implementation outcome, achievement and urged them to put in their best to support the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) to achieve the Project Development Objectives (PDO).

The Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bola Olukoju, raised the need for more advocacy and sensitization for the project in the state and expressed her Ministry's commitment to working with the team. 

In her remarks ,the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, harped on the importance of sterling performance and assured the team that all relevant financial documents will be attended to promptly in order to aid a smooth project implementation.

On her part, the Permanent Secretary of Education and Vice-chairman SPSC, Mrs. Rebecca Bake Olanrewaju, commended the Governor for being proactive and investing heavily in the education sector in the State.

 

She appreciated the SPSC for their time and dedication adding that the Ministry will support the Project Implementation Unit in any area where they need help. 

Prof. Raheem Adaramaja, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), commended the team and noted that he had been following the AGILE project in other states. 

He emphasized the need for adequate publicity for the project and urged the team to gear up, assuring of his full support in achieving the set objectives. 

Earlier in his remarks, the Project Coordinator of Kwara AGILE, Mr. Adeshina Azeez Salami, explained the objectives of AGILE, noting that the project has set out to reduce gender gap in secondary education completion rate, improve secondary education opportunities among girls and ease labour market transition among adolescent girls.

The Adolescent Girls' Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project is a 5-year programme of the Federal Ministry of Education with support from the World Bank, aimed at enhancing secondary school opportunities among girls in public schools. 

Kwara State is one of the eleven (11) Additional Financing (AF) States to benefit from the project, having fulfilled the World Bank requirements. Seven parent states keyed into the project first and these include; Borno, Ekiti, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Plateau States. 

Other members of the Steering Committee present were; Commissioner for Youths Development, Hon. Nafisat Musa Buge; Commissioner for Environment, Mall. Shehu Ndanusa Usman; Commissioner of Social Development, Hon. Opeyemi Oluwakemi Afolashade.

Others were the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Olaitan Abosede Buraimoh, represented by the DPFS, Mrs. Ishola Maryam Idowu; Exec. Chairman, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mall. Bello Tauheed Abubakar; Acting. Dir. Agency for Mass Education, Mallam Yusuf Saka; Chairman, School Based Management Committee (SBMC), Alh. Khalifa Tamim and the Coordinator of Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSALEFA) , Mr. Abdulrahman Ayuba.

Ayobami Ashaolu,

Communications Officer, 

Kwara AGILE.

08113451023.