The Kwara State government has established a steering committee to oversee the implementation of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), a program aimed at enhancing the quality of secondary school education for girls. AGILE is supported by the federal government and the World Bank.
This development follows the state government’s fulfillment of all requirements to qualify for the program, including the payment of a N150 million commitment fund. The committee consists of various officials, including the Commissioners of Education, Finance, Health, Women’s Affairs, Social Development, Youth Development, Environment, and Communications, as well as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development.
Additionally, the committee comprises key figures such as the Executive Chairmen of the State Universal Basic Education Board and the State Teaching Service Commission, the Executive Director of the Agency for Mass Education, the Chairman of the State School-Based Management Committee, the Coordinator of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All, and the State Project Coordinator (Secretary).
As stated by Rafiu Ajakaye, the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, the committee’s responsibilities include reviewing the progress of the state’s sub-projects on a quarterly basis and relaying their findings to the National Project Coordinating Unit.
They will also approve annual work plans, budgets, and procurement strategies, ensure that performance targets are met, monitor the program’s performance using key indicators, facilitate effective communication and information access, oversee feedback and complaints, and assess the achievement of project outcomes.
The provided counterpart fund is intended to initiate the AGILE program in the state. This initiative involves substantial investments in secondary school infrastructure, hygiene facilities, efforts to reduce dropout rates among girls, and the enhancement of overall educational outcomes for them.
