Kwara Pays N150m Counterpart Funds to Support Girl Child Education

*Constitutes steering committee for AGILE projects

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin.

Kwara State Government has paid the total sum of N150 million as counterpart funds for the implementation of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project.

AGILE is a federal government and the World Bank-supported programme to improve girl child’s access to quality secondary school education.
Already, the government has constituted a steering committee for the implementation of the AGILE in the state.

A statement issued in Ilorin yesterday, signed by Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, stated: “The setting up of the steering committee is another step which follows the state government’s fulfillment of all criteria that qualified it for the programme, including payment of a commitment fund of N150 million.”

The statement noted that the committee comprises headship/Commissioner of the Ministry of Education (chairperson); Commissioner for Finance; Commissioner for Health; Commissioner for Women Affairs; Commissioner for Social Development; Commissioner for Youth Development; Commissioner for Environment; Commissioner for Communications; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development and Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board.

Other members of the committee include Executive Chairman of the State Teaching Service Commission; Executive Director Agency for Mass Education; Chairman, State School Based Management Committee; Coordinator, Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All; and State Project Coordinator (Secretary).
The statement added that, “the committee is to meet quarterly to review the implementation of the state’s sub-projects and forward its analysis and conclusions to the National Project Coordinating Unit; approve annual work programmes.”

The committee would also see to the budget and procurement plans; ensure that performance targets are met; track performance using key performance indicators for the programme; ensure effective communication and access to information; monitor feedback and grievances; and monitor project implementation outcome achievement.