World Bank Approves Additional $700 Million for AGILE, Boosting Girls' Education Project to $1.2 Billion

The World Bank has granted an additional $700 million to bolster the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), a project dedicated to enhancing girls' education. This approval brings the total funding for AGILE to $1.2 billion, showcasing the success and importance of the initiative. The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN, unveiled the increased funding during the inauguration of the national steering committee in Abuja.

Initially initiated with a $500 million credit facility, AGILE has demonstrated success in seven participating states, benefiting over 2.4 million girls as of September 2023. The substantial increase in funding underscores the project's achievements and its crucial role in advancing girls' education in Nigeria.

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Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, lauded the project's achievements in the pilot states and emphasized the pivotal role of educating the girl-child for Nigeria's future. He commended the program's inclusive approach, involving communities, traditional, and religious leaders in driving positive change.

Supervised by the Federal Ministry of Education, AGILE aims to decrease the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria and enhance secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls aged 10 to 20. Initially launched in seven states, the project expanded to include eleven more states this year, spanning a five-year period from 2020 to 2025.

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The national steering committee, chaired by Minister Tahir Mamman, is tasked with monitoring and ensuring the effective implementation of AGILE. Minister Mamman emphasized the project's significance in reducing the high number of out-of-school children and expressed optimism for continued success in the newly added states.

Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, highlighted AGILE as an investment in educating the girl-child, aligning with Nigeria's commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 for inclusive and equitable quality education.

Amina Haruna, the National Project Coordinator, outlined the project's components, including the creation of safe learning spaces, infrastructure improvement, and teacher recruitment. Notable achievements include reaching over 2.4 million beneficiaries, renovating non-functional classrooms, constructing WASH facilities, and delivering teaching and learning materials.

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The AGILE project, with increased financial support, aims to contribute significantly to empowering girls through education, fostering sustainable development and gender equality in Nigeria.mbers nationwide.