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.
