The Gombe State Government has disbursed N726 million to 12,101 female students from public junior and senior secondary schools across the state to boost access to quality education and improve school infrastructure.
The funds, released for the 2024/2025 academic session, were provided through the School Improvement Grants (SIG) and Girls’ Scholarships under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, a World Bank–assisted programme.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony on Friday in Gombe, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, described the initiative as another milestone in the state’s education sector, reaffirming the government’s commitment to inclusive and quality learning.
Jatau said the gesture targeted girls because of their proven resilience and critical role in community development.
“Experience has shown that when you care for the girl child, you are also caring for the family, community, and the nation. This investment in our girls is an investment in the future of Gombe State,” he stated.
The deputy governor also announced the disbursement of SIG funds to 537 public secondary schools across the 11 local government areas of the state. He explained that grants were allocated based on school population — N23.1 million for schools with 200 students, N46.2 million for those with 500 students, and N92.4 million for schools with over 1,000 students.
He commended the World Bank, the AGILE State Project Implementation Unit, and the Ministry of Education for their support and urged school-based management committees and communities to ensure transparency and proper monitoring of the funds.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aishatu Umar Maigari, said the project aligned with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s vision to transform the education sector, particularly at the basic and secondary levels.
“This initiative represents a shared vision of inclusion, equity, and sustainable development. Through the governor’s leadership, Gombe has successfully implemented the AGILE project to reach thousands of girls while revitalising community participation in school governance,” she said.
The State AGILE Project Coordinator, Dr. Amina Haruna Abdul, explained that the scholarships aimed to reduce barriers to girls’ education through financial aid, infrastructure improvement, and strengthened school governance.
She said each beneficiary would receive ₦50,000 per academic session, including an initial ₦40,000 for uniforms and learning materials, and ₦10,000 periodically to cover other school expenses.
According to her, the support is designed to ease the financial burden on parents and promote higher enrollment, retention, and completion rates among girls.
“The initiative is a step forward in alleviating economic hardship, increasing school enrollment, improving retention rates among girls, and ensuring that more female students complete their secondary education,” she said.
The Gombe State Government said it would continue to work with partners to sustain the gains of the AGILE project and promote gender equity in education.
