Niger to Construct 54 Schools, Renovate 534 Others

.Begins free vaccination of livestock’s, others

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The World Bank-assisted programme, Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project is to support the Niger state government in the construction of 54 new schools across the state.

The international organisation will also support the government to renovate 534 others a plan that is targeted at improving school enrolment and in some cases abolish the shift system.

In another development, the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed  Umaru Bago has charged Livestock and poultry farmers in the state to be committed and support the free vaccination of their animals being embarked upon by government to ensure their well-being and boost productivity.

The Deputy Coordinator of  AGILE  project in the state, Malam. Salisu Danjuma disclosed this at a one-day sensitisation workshop for zonal quality assurance officers on the role and responsibilities of school-based management committees and support development of school improvement plans.

Danjuma said the 54 schools to be constructed are made up of 27 junior secondary schools and 27 senior secondary schools pointing out  that the project would be handled by the school-based management committees under the supervision of Quality Assurance Officers.

Danjuma said the World Bank is also supporting girl -child education in vulnerable and poorest local government areas of Gbako, Mokwa, Lapai, Shiroro, Lavun, Mariga and Rafi with financial incentives, ranging from N5, 000 to N10, 000 to be paid every term, beginning from primary school to secondary school level.

He said it is aimed at increasing the enrolment drive of the girl child and reducing high rate of school dropouts due to lack of support and poverty.

Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Vatsa Jonathan, tasked the quality assurance officers to maintain proper monitoring to ensure that quality works are done.

He also advised them to take ownership of the projects by taking appropriate steps towards improving the performance of the project and the contractors.

Meanwhile,  Niger State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed  Umaru Bago has charged Livestock and poultry farmers in the State to be committed and support the free vaccination of their animals being embarked upon by government to ensure their well-being and boost productivity.

The governor  stated this when he flagged off the 2024 Statewide Livestock and poultry free vaccination at the Livestock Improvement and Breeding Centre in Tagwai Village last weekend.

Represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Yakubu Garba, the governor  underscored the importance of vaccinating animals because they are a major source of dairy production and products in the state. 

He identified the pivotal role livestock farming plays in the state’s economy, saying that good attention to their health and productivity would safeguard consumers and enhance productivity thereby contributing significantly to the national food security and emergency programme of the federal government.

The governor said the agricultural revolution and mechanisation vision of his administration is rooted in the modernisation of farming practices and investment in cutting-edge technologies that will propel the State towards prosperity and self-sufficiency.

He also disclosed that the state government had released the counterpart fund to the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) to facilitate the implementation of their activities, assuring of continuous support for all development partners in the State.

The Commissioner for Livestock and Fisheries, Ibrahim Mami Ijah who described the event as a new dawn for livestock farmers adding that  the event is a demonstration of the commitment of the government  to change the narratives in terms of Livestock development sub-sector in the State.

Miami Ijah disclosed that the Ministry has already commenced the hatching of birds for poultry and the production of fingerlings to encourage and boost fish and poultry production in the State to meet the daily demands in the State and beyond.