KWAGILE Begins Training of Focal Persons in Public Schools

The Kwara State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project has commenced the constitution and training of Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Focal Persons in all the 898 junior and senior secondary schools, in the State.

The State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Sa'adatu Modibbo-Kawu declared open the event in Ilorin today at the College of Education hall, Ilorin.

The Commissioner stated the importance of the training, adding that the exercise would be carried out across the 3 Senatorial districts of the Kwara State.

Hajia Modibo-Kawu commended the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of AGILE Project, for organizing the programme, urging participants to ensure they step down the training back home (schools) and various communities. 

According to her, "the government of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is passionate about education, especially the empowerment of the girl-child, in which AGILE Project is one of the projects, that is deeply concerned about the girl-child's total development.

"We need to ensure that we do everything within our means to make the project succeed. You are all relevant stakeholders, therefore, issues of grievances need to be identified and addressed promptly," she added. 

At the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) training session, the GRM Officer from the National Project Coordinating Unit (NPCU), Abuja, Mr. Emmanuel Erinms, laid emphasis on the fact that, the project- AGILE is community-based, which needs the supports of all relevant stakeholders to succeed. 

He also noted that a Complaint box will be provided in all the junior and senior government-owned schools, to promptly register and address all grievances, that may be encountered in the schools. 

On the purpose of training, the State Project Coordinator of Kwara AGILE, Mr. Adeshina Azeez Salami disclosed that the project will renovate all public junior and senior secondary schools, and as well construct new schools in identified locations, teach life skills, digital literacy skills, provide second chance opportunity for out-of-school girls, among others. 

The resource person on GBV, Mrs. Olufunke Bolaji, explained the concept of sex and gender, Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH) adding that in treating cases of GBV that may arise during the course of the project implementation, confidentiality is crucial. 

The Principal of Government Day Junior Secondary School, Alore, Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state, Alhaja Saka Aminat Iyalode, appreciated the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration for the initiative, as she was greatly excited at the news on renovations that will be carried out, in all public secondary schools, across the state, assuring government of their support at all times. 

The committees constitution and membership training was carried out on three GRC representatives, from each of the junior and senior secondary schools, with the following as members; the Principal, a female Guidance Counselor and a community, who were specifically directed to step it down to other members of the committee.

Ayobami Ashaolu,

Communications Officer,

KWAGILE.

18/09/2024