Coordinator attributes AGILE success in Zamfara to Gov. Lawal’s political will

Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdu-Gusau, the Zamfara Coordinator of AGILE, a World Bank-funded project, has attributed its success to Gov. Dauda Lawal’s commitment to the education sector in the state.

The news report that AGILE means Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment.

The coordinator stated this while fielding questions from journalists in Gusau on Friday.

Abdu-Gusau said the project had yielded unprecedented results in improving girls’ access to quality education in the state due to the governor’s political will.

She said that Lawal’s administration had prioritised education reforms, particularly initiatives that expanded learning opportunities for girls and other vulnerable groups.

“AGILE has improved girls’ enrolment, retention, and completion in basic and secondary education across the state.

“The rescue mission policy on education sector of the state by Lawal’s administration, coupled with AGILE’s objectives, have made tremendous impact,” she said.

Abdu-Gusau also applauded the administration for declaring an emergency in the education sector, noting that it had transformed the sector by improving the learning environment with massive infrastructure and other basic facilities.

She noted that the AGILE project was complementing the government’s efforts in promoting the sector, especially through educating and empowering vulnerable adolescent girls.

The coordinator said the AGILE project had provided opportunities for the girl-child and vulnerable adolescent girls in Zamfara.

“With the kind of support from Gov. Dauda Lawal and the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, I can say AGILE performed excellently in Zamfara.

“I want to use this opportunity to commend Gov. Lawal for giving the AGILE programme the mandate, opportunity, and support to operate in the state.

“One of the major achievements recorded by AGILE in Zamfara is improvement in girl-child enrolment in schools,” she stated.

Abdu-Gusau noted that acceptance of the programme with good understanding by communities and all critical education stakeholders, especially religious and community leaders and the media, was among the major successes recorded.

“Following the declaration of emergency in the education sector, Zamfara recorded tremendous achievements in the sector.

“Lawal’s rescue mission policy and declaration of emergency in the education sector enhanced operations of the AGILE programme, and it is giving our young adolescent girls opportunity for a greater future,” she said.

According to her, AGILE is multi-sectoral; it cuts across education, health and empowerment sectors.

“We have performed excellently in creating learning spaces through schools establishment and renovations across the state.

“The AGILE cash transfer programme changed the lives of thousands of vulnerable adolescent girls, especially in the rural communities,” she revealed.

Abdu-Gusau said AGILE had renovated a total of 441 classrooms in 42 schools across the state to enhance accessibility to schools in vulnerable communities, especially those affected by insecurity.

“Some of the benefiting communities lacked schools before AGILE’s intervention,” she noted.