Gombe State Government on Friday, launched an educational program, disbursing N726 million to 12,101 female students across public junior and senior secondary schools in the state for the 2024/2025 academic session.
The goal of this funding is to increase access to quality education for adolescent girls and improve school infrastructure statewide under the World Bank-assisted AGILE Project. The disbursement is spearheaded by the School Improvement Grants (SIG) and Girls’ Scholarships program, designed to empower female students who have demonstrated resilience and community contributions.
Deputy Governor Manassah Daniel Jatau described the initiative as a great step in the educational development of the State, stressing the commitments of the administration to inclusive, quality education.
Investing in our girls is investing in the future of Gombe State – Jatau
SIG grants were also allocated to 537 public secondary schools across 11 local government areas to enhance infrastructural safety and learning conditions, with funding tiered according to school population size.
The Deputy Governor praised World Bank and local educational bodies for their dedication and called for stringent oversight of the funds and facilities by School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) and communities.
Education Commissioner Dr Aishatu Umar Maigari hailed the initiative as aligned with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s agenda of transforming basic and secondary education through inclusion and community engagement.
AGILE Project Coordinator Dr Amina Haruna Abdul added that the scholarships, provide each girl N50,000 per academic session to assist with uniforms, materials, snacks, and other educational expenses, and also help to ease financial burdens and promote retention.
This program is meant to increase enrollment, reduce dropout rates among girls, and increase the educational outcomes and also lead to sustainable development and the empowerment of young women in the State.
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