The World Bank has committed a staggering $1.2 billion to support adolescent girls’ education and empowerment across 18 states.
This initiative was announced during the relaunch of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme in Abuja on Friday.
The World Bank Country Director, Ndiame Diop, represented by Tina George, the bank’s Senior Social Protection Specialist, highlighted the programme’s transformative impact.
“AGILE is a 1.2 billion U.S. dollar investment in human development as a multi-sectoral programme that is implemented at the federal and state levels. It is to provide comprehensive support to increase adolescent girls’ secondary educational attainment and empowerment,” Diop stated.
He further emphasized the broader impact of educating girls, noting: “An educated girl is truly a mirror, a mother of her community. When a girl is educated and empowered, she is a reflection of the community around her.”
The AGILE programme aims to reach over 25 million beneficiaries, focusing on 15.2 million students, including 8.6 million adolescent girls, both married and unmarried, as well as those with disabilities.
The targeted states include: Borno, Ekiti, Kebbi, Kaduna, Plateau, Katsina, Kano, Adamawa, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Bauchi, Jigawa, Yobe, Kwara, Gombe, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
Diop explained that the initiative is not just about educating girls but also about transforming communities: “The AGILE programme does not only aim to support the girl-child, but also seeks to empower the entire community around her, helping them to see themselves in the mirror.”
Highlighting the progress made so far, Diop revealed that the programme has onstructed 104 new secondary schools and rehabilitated 3,922 existing schools to support both girls and boys.
It has also directly benefited over two million girls and 1.7 million boys through its interventions.
He stressed the need for collaboration among government agencies, traditional and religious leaders, educational institutions, and civil society organizations to break down the barriers preventing girls from accessing quality education.
Reaffirming the World Bank’s commitment, Diop pledged continued support for initiatives that enhance education and economic opportunities for Nigerian girls, ensuring that they contribute meaningfully to national development.
This massive investment underscores the World Bank’s dedication to empowering young girls, improving educational infrastructure, and fostering a more inclusive future for Nigeria.
(NAN)
