Kwara AGILE Grants Scholarship to 32,420 Beneficiaries
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its strong commitment to promoting girl child education, by granting Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scholarship to 32,420 beneficiaries, describing education as a cornerstone of human development and a fundamental right of every girl child in the State.
The Project Coordinator, Kwara State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, Mr. Adeshina Salami, disclosed this on Monday in Ilorin, the state capital, at an advocacy/sensitisation programme on the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT); a sub-component of the project tagged “Girls Scholarship Programme.
In his remarks, Mr. Salami lauded the passion of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the education sector, particularly applauding his special interest in the development of the girl child, consequent upon which he facilitated the project to the State.
“The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) sub-component is one of the aspects of this project, aimed at supporting less privileged girls and to ensure that nothing serves as a barrier to their education,” Salami added.
In the same vein, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Lead, Alhaji Mohammed Alaya noted that the beneficiaries who met the criteria have already been captured for the first cohort, warning that the money to be given to the parents/caregivers must be used strictly for the girls’ education and there should be no diversion of funds, in whatever guise.
He added: “32,420 JSS 1 and SSS 1 girls have been enrolled under the CCT component. To benefit, they must meet up with at least 70% attendance rate.
“For successful registration in school, beneficiaries are entitled to N15,000 and another N25,000 for transitioning from Primary 6 to JSS 1.
“At the commencement of second term, the JSS 1 beneficiary is also entitled to N10,000 and another N10,000 in third term as long as she meets up with the 70% attendance rate. In view of this, the total amount each beneficiary will get in JSS 1 is N60,000 and this same method applies to girls transiting from JSS 3 to SSS 1.
“In the same vein, beneficiaries in JSS 2, JSS 3, SS 2 and SS 3 are entitled to N10,000 per term, making a total of N30,000 each, per session.”
At the training session, the Social Safeguard Officer, Mariam Bello trained participants on effective grievance management, explaining how to address grievances emanating from CCT programme, adding that there is a dedicated line with which grievances can be addressed.
The Social Norms Officer, Mr. Victor Apaguntan, explained the importance of community ownership as well as girls’ education, urging the audience to support the project as it aims to increase girls’ enrollment and completion of secondary education.
Parents and some beneficiaries who spoke to the media expressed gratitude to government, with optimism that CCT Scholarship for the girls would lessen their burden, with a promise to make good use of the money once disbursed, for the purpose intended.
The programme had in attendance stakeholders like the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), School Based Management Committee (SBMC), Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) and Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN)
Others were; Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPHSON), Civil Society’s Action Coalition in Education for All (CSACEFA), Traditional and Religious Leaders, market women, parents/caregivers and students.