The Kogi Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones (FCIB), has inaugurated the Kogi State Project Steering Committee, (SPSC) for Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment.
In his opening remarks, the Commissioner disclosed that AGILE is a Federal Government World Bank-sponsored project that is expected to use secondary schools as a platform to empower girls through education, life skills, health education, gender-based violence awareness and prevention, and digital literacy skills.
He disclosed that the World Bank haven seen the success of the project with the initial seven states that kick off the project, they recently approved 11 additional states which Kogi is part of the first six enlisted states to commence.
He commended Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello for approving the project and making available all requirements needed to make the project fully operational in the state.
Hon. Wemi further stressed that if the project is well executed and managed, the state stands a chance of being able to renovate public schools across the various Local Government in Kogi State and train young girls to be digitally sound, self-dependent through skills acquisition, and empowered via Conditional Cash Transfer.
While officially inaugurating the committee, the commissioner admonished all the SPSC members to bring their wealth of experience to bear while ensuring that supervision and all necessary support are given to the State Project Implementing Unit (SPIU).
He further disclosed that the SPSC will be meeting quarterly for oversight functions to achieve the Project Development Objective (PDO).
The commissioner further congratulated the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Bello Abdulhakeem, and all other members of the SPIU, urging them to put in all efforts and expertise to ensure that the project succeeds in the state.
Earlier in her remark, the Executive Chairman, Kogi State Science, Technical Education and Teaching Service Commission (STETSCOM), , Mrs. Cecilia Cook commended Governor Bello for the approval of the project and Hon. Wemi Jones for the proactive measures taken so far in ensuring the success recorded so far.
She expressed her joy towards the benefits that the project will bring especially to the Adolescent Girls across the 21 Local Government Areas, adding that she will be readily available through her office and as a member of the SPSC.
Similarly, the Executive Chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Abdullahi Ndalayi Suleiman stressed that the project calls for sacrifice from both the State Project Steering Committee and the State Project Implementing Unit.
He advised that the project must be driven by the passion and desire to help change the narrative about girl child education, get those out of school back to school, and help create a safe and conducive environment for learning for both the girl and the male child.
Members of the committee into the SPSC are; the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, (Chairman) Director EPRS, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Ahman Animoku, (Secretary), Permanent Secretaries of, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ministry of Information and Communication, Ministry of Health, Executive Chairman, STETCOM, and the Executive Chairman, SUBEB.