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SBMC Chairman Urges Use of Daily Attendance as Criterion for Girls’ CCT Scholarship Selection

Achida, Wurno LGA Sokoto State

The State Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC), Alhaji Muhammad Ajiyan Gobir, has called on the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project to adopt daily class attendance as a key criterion for selecting beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Girls’ Scholarship Programme.

Alhaji Gobir made the call during a one-day advocacy and stakeholders’ meeting on the Girls’ Scholarship Programme (Cohort 2), organized by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in collaboration with the Sokoto State AGILE Project. The meeting was held in Achida, Wurno Local Government Area, and brought together stakeholders from the eight southern local government areas of Sokoto State.

He commended participants for their active engagement and expressed deep appreciation to the Sokoto State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, FCNA, for introducing what he described as a laudable and impactful project. He also praised the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ahmad Ladan Ala, the State AGILE Coordinator, Dr. Mansur Isa Buhari, and the entire AGILE project team for their dedication and outstanding performance.

In his remarks, Professor Ahmad Ladan Ala assured stakeholders that all eligible candidates would be enrolled in the CCT Cohort 2 Programme. He was represented at the meeting by Abubakar Zaki, Deputy Director, Planning, Research, and Statistics, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.

Earlier, the State AGILE Coordinator, Dr. Mansur Isa Buhari, delivered a welcome address through his representative, Hafiz Ibrahim Dogon Daji, a Component Lead in the AGILE Project. He also presented key highlights of the CCT Second Cohort Programme.

During the presentation session, Abubakar Alkammu, Muhammad Umar Hamma Ali, and Hassan Balarabe spoke extensively on the importance of educating the girl child and the various support mechanisms provided to encourage school re-enrollment and retention. They emphasized that parents and guardians must ensure that the CCT funds are used strictly for the intended educational purposes.

The meeting concluded with closing remarks by the Education Secretary of Wurno Local Government Area, who thanked stakeholders for their commitment and urged sustained collaboration to ensure the success of the programme.

Sokoto State Government Urges Parents to Prioritize Girls’ Education

Parents in Sokoto State have been urged to prioritize their daughters’ education and ensure consistent school attendance. The call was made by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ahmad Ladan Ala, during a one-day advocacy meeting with stakeholders on the Girls Scholarship Program (Cohort 2).

The event was organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project.

Represented by the Director of Administration, Abubakar Umar Salame, Professor Ala reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening the education sector. He highlighted the substantial investments made under Governor Ahmad Aliyu, particularly in expanding educational infrastructure and enhancing learning environments across the state.

The Commissioner also commended AGILE for supporting the state’s drive to improve girls’ education through the construction of boreholes and classrooms in various local government areas. He noted that his ongoing monitoring and inspection visits have shown encouraging progress in teaching quality, school attendance, and overall learning outcomes.

Speaking at the event, the Sokoto State Coordinator of AGILE, Dr. Mansur Isa Buhari, represented by the CCT Component Lead, Mamuda Galadima, said the workshop aimed to sensitize stakeholders on program activities and further promote girls’ education for a brighter and more inclusive future.

The workshop brought together principals, education secretaries, SBMC members, and other key stakeholders from across the state. Participants reviewed the successes and challenges of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program and expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that it had broadened their understanding of the scholarship program and its expected impact.

Delivering the closing remarks, the State President of ANCOPS, Muhammad Ikililu, thanked the state government, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ahmad Ladan Ala, the AGILE State Coordinator, Dr. Mansur Isa Buhari, and the CCT Component Lead, Mamuda Galadima, for their dedication and remarkable contributions to improving girls’ education in Sokoto State.

The event reaffirmed Sokoto State’s commitment to fostering quality education, empowering girls, and building a stronger culture of learning across the state.

The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project has commenced a three-day capacity building training on Data Management and Reporting for Zonal Education Quality Assurance Officers and Education Management Information System (EMIS) Officers from Sokoto State. The training is taking place in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

Declaring the training open, the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Sokoto State, Professor A. L. Ala, who was represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Chika Murtala, commended the participants for their commitment to improving data quality and management in the education sector.

He urged the officers to pay close attention throughout the training, stressing that Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) officers play a vital role in shaping government policies and budgets through reliable data and reporting.

It is through M&E reports that government plans its annual budget and implements development programmes. “Therefore, much is expected from you to help move the education sector forward in Sokoto State,” Professor Ala stated, before formally declaring the training open.

In his welcome address, the AGILE Project Component Lead (M&E 3.2), Muhammad Mainasara Usman, welcomed all participants and guests and highlighted the objectives of the training, emphasizing its importance in strengthening data-driven decision-making within the education system.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Executive Director, Nomadic Education Board, Tambari Dikko Goshe; Hajiya Rabi Muhammad Gwadabawa from SUBEB; the Communication Officer, AGILE Project, Sokoto State; Zonal Director, Sokoto South, Abubakar Ibrahim; and Head of EMIS, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Hafiz Ibrahim Dogon Daji.
All speakers underscored the importance of Monitoring and Evaluation in improving educational outcomes and wished participants success during the training.

In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator, AGILE Project, Sokoto State, Dr. Mansur Isa Buhari, appreciated the participants for attending the training and reiterated the Project’s commitment to advancing education, particularly girls’ education, in the state.
It is only through effective data management and reporting that the AGILE Project can identify areas requiring intervention and provide targeted support to improve education in Sokoto State,” Dr. Buhari stated.

The three-day training is aimed at strengthening the capacity of officers in data management, analysis, and reporting to enhance evidence-based planning and policy implementation in the education sector.

The ministry of Basic and Secondary Education sokoto State wishes to inform the general public, especially parents and guardians of female students across secondary schools in the state, that following the official launch of the AGILE support program by the First Lady of Sokoto State, Her Excellency Hajiya Fatima Ahmad Aliyu, funds have been successfully disbursed to beneficiaries through ATM cards distributed in schools.

However, the Ministry has received disturbing reports that some school principals and teachers have unlawfully collected ATM cards from students and are allegedly withdrawing part of the funds for personal use. This is a serious breach of trust and a clear act of exploitation, which the government strongly condemns and will not tolerate.

The Ministry hereby states the following:

1. ATM cards belong solely to the students. No school authority or staff member has the right to collect or withhold a student’s card under any circumstance.
2. Parents are strongly advised to ensure that their daughters have full possession and control of their ATM cards.
3. Any principal, teacher, or staff member found guilty of this act will face immediate administrative action.
4. Concerned parents or students who experience or witness such acts should report immediately by calling the following number: 08036074739.
5. The Ministry will follow up all credible reports and ensure full accountability and justice.

This warning serves as a strong reminder to all school authorities that the AGILE fund is a State intervention meant to empower female students and improve access to education not an opportunity for exploitation.

The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the protection of students’ rights across all schools in the state.

Signed,
Professor Ahmad Ladan Ala
Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education
Sokoto State

The Sokoto State Government has officially launched a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program targeting 41,825 adolescent girls across all 23 local government areas, under the World Bank-supported Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE).

The flag-off ceremony took place at the Government House in Sokoto and was presided over by Hajiya Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, the wife of the Sokoto State Governor. In her remarks, the First Lady commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his unwavering commitment to girl-child education and expressed appreciation to AGILE and other development partners for their continued support.

Launched in August 2024, AGILE is a transformative education intervention aimed at increasing school enrollment, retention, and completion among girls. The initiative provides targeted financial support to vulnerable households, alongside investments in critical school infrastructure and learning environments.

Each of the 41,825 beneficiaries will receive ₦40,000 per academic term, as long as the project continues, to support their education and reduce the economic barriers to schooling. The girls, in their testimonies, expressed gratitude and pledged to use the funds responsibly to further their education.

Since its inception, the AGILE program has recorded tremendous success, with over 200,000 girls targeted to benefit in Sokoto State alone before the project’s conclusion.

The Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ahmad Ladan Ala, was represented at the ceremony by the Director of Administration, Abubakar Umar Salame, who delivered the commissioner’s remarks. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s support for the AGILE project and emphasized the importance of sustaining girls’ access to quality education.

Also present at the event were the representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, Aminu Bala (Dan Iyan Sakkwato), and the AGILE National Coordinator, Hajia Amina Buba Haruna, who all praised the Sokoto State Government for its commitment to girls’ education. They noted that the state’s remarkable implementation has exceeded expectations, especially as it was not among the initial 18 states captured in the AGILE initiative.

Following the flag-off, the AGILE National Coordinator paid a courtesy visit to the wife of the Governor at her residence. She also held a brief meeting with all component leads at the AGILE State Office, where she commended the team for the successful launch and reaffirmed the continued support of the National Office.

The Sokoto AGILE Team is delighted to announce the official Flag-Off Ceremony of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Programme, scheduled as follows:

Date: Thursday, 25th September 2025
Venue: Government House, Sokoto
Time: 10:00 AM (Guests are kindly requested to be seated by 9:30 AM)

This historic event will be presided over by Her Excellency, the Wife of the Executive Governor of Sokoto State. It marks the official commencement of direct cash transfers to 41,825 beneficiaries across all 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

The Conditional Cash Transfer is a vital component of the AGILE initiative, designed to support vulnerable households and promote girls’ education through targeted interventions.

The Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmad Aliyu, has donated 3 utility vans to the Sokoto State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (SOKOTO AGILE) project in a bid to strengthen its monitoring and supervision of the construction of new schools and the ongoing school renovation works across the state. The gesture is aimed at improving the efficiency of the project team in reaching schools in both urban and rural communities.

Presenting the vehicle, the Governor, throughthe Secretary to the State Government, Alhaii Bello Sifawa, said the donation reflects his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the AGILE project achieves its goal of expanding access to quality education, especially for adolescent girls. He explained that with several schools currently undergoing renovation under the initiative, the provision of a dedicated van would enable field officers to carry out regular inspections and provide timely reports.

The Governor further noted that education remains a top priority in his administration, stressing that investing in infrastructure, supervision, and empowerment initiatives will go a long way in addressing the challenges facing secondary education in Sokoto State. He assured that the state government would continue to support AGILE to improve enrollment as well as teaching and learning outcomes.

Speaking on behalf of the AGILE project team, the State Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ahmad Ala, commended the Governor for the support, describing the donation as timely. He said the vans would ease mobility challenges and enhance project monitoring, ensuring that schools under renovation meet the required standards and are delivered within schedule.

The three vans will be utilised by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), State Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education as well as the state Ministry for Science and Technology.

Community leaders and education stakeholders also lauded the intervention, saying it would accelerate the transformation of learning environments across Sokoto. They expressed optimism that with strengthened supervision, the AGILE project will have lasting impact in improving enrollment, retention, and overall educational opportunities for girls in the state.

Training on Conditional Cash Transfer(CCT) Cards Distribution Tracking

Traditional leaders in Sokoto State have reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning Empowerment (AGILE) School facilities

The program aims to protect schools from vandalism, drugs, and other criminal activities.

Ciroman Sokoto Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar III and Sarkin Bauran Dange Alhaji Bello Usman, District Heads of Sokoto, made this commitment during a visit from Dr. Mansur Isah Buhari, state Coordinator of AGILE.

They pledged their unwavering support for the program and urged their subjects to protect AGILE facilities in secondary schools across the state.

The AGILE project seeks to enhance girl-child education and reduce street wandering among pupils by combining learning with vocational skills.

Abubakar III emphasized the importance of empowering women and orphans through skill acquisition programs.

He noted that Sokoto metropolis has only one women’s education centre and advocated for at least one vocational acquisition centre in each ward.

Abubakar III suggested providing graduates with start-up packs and renting business shops to prevent them from selling handmade items.

DDrKabiru Aliyu, representing DDrBuhari, announced plans to establish additional women’s education centres to supplement the AGILE program.

The AGILE project provides basic education, literacy, and income generation skills training to boost female participation in education.

One of its components is Water and Sanitation (WASH), which includes constructing toilets and providing boreholes for water and sanitation in beneficiary schools.

Ten secondary schools in the Dange/Shuni local government area will benefit from the AGILE project’s WASH component.

These schools include Command Secondary School, Government Girls Science Secondary School, Government Day Secondary School in Gidan Gara, and Government Day Secondary School in Fajallu.

Traditional leaders in Sokoto State have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting vocational skills in schools, aiming to enhance girlchild education and reduce street wandering among pupils.

They also pledged their unwavering support for the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) program, which seeks to safeguard schools from vandalism, drugs, and other criminal activities.

The District Heads of Sokoto, Ciroman Sokoto Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar III and Sarkin Bauran Dange Alhaji Bello Usman, made this commitment when they received the state Coordinator of AGILE, Dr. Mansur Isah Buhari, on an advocacy visit to their palaces.