The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment AGILE Project in Zamfara State has concluded arrangement to begin the first phase of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) disbursement for adolescent girls students effective from July 2025.
The Conditional Cash Transfer Officer of the AGILE project in Zamfara State, Hajiya Ummu- Salma Abubakar Usman made this known while interacting with Journalists in Gusau, the Zamfara State Capital on the programme.
According to her, the payment process is currently in the final stage while the students’ ATMs for the beneficiaries are being produced.
Hajiya Ummu-Salma assured that the validated students would start receiving their payments before the end of this month of July even as some of them have already received text messages of their account numbers.
She explained that the CCT initiative was introduced specifically to support economically disadvantaged parents, enabling them to keep their daughters in school.
The programme officer also highlighted the security challenges in Zamfara State, which have rendered many women widows, and without the financial strength to educate their children.
“This is why the CCT component was introduced into the AGILE project,” she said.
She emphasized that, AGILE does not take children to school directly but rather visits schools to identify and enroll eligible students into the program.
“Under AGILE, we do not collect any fees for student registration,” she added.
Hajiya UmmaSalma Abubukar further explained that, the program targets girls in Primary 6 and JSS 3 as they constitute the key transition points where parents are required to buy new uniforms, shoes, school bags, and pay enrollment fees into JSS1 or SS1.
“If a parent can’t even afford basic food items like millet or maize, how would they think of sending their daughter to school at such a crucial point?” she asked.
“Even if schools are renovated, if poor parents are not financially supported, many children will still remain at home. That’s why this intervention became necessary,” Ummu-salma explained.
She said that enrollment is being done using official school registers and that students are called one by one for proper documentation.
“Each student must be accompanied by her mother or a close relative for the capturing of their name, photograph, Bank Verification Number (BVN), and phone number before final validation.” Ummu-Salma further clarified.
She added that payments are being made in batches ranging from ₦15,000 to ₦25,000.
Hajiya UmmuSalma Abubakar emphasized that, students must maintain at least 70% attendance in school to qualify for the next phase of the payment.
Also contributing, Bashir Kabiru Ahmad, the AGILE Project Communications Officer, said the initiative under the leadership of Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdu Gusau is fully committed to improving the education of adolescent girls in Zamfara State.
Alhaji Bashir Ahmad expressed happiness that, more people are beginning to understand what AGILE is all about, and have keyed in to the public enlightenment drive of the initiative.
According to him, the AGILE intervention covers several areas, including Construction and renovation of schools, Teaching of computer literacy, Vocational skills training, Provision of clean water and toilet facilities in schools snd tackling all barriers that hinder school attendance.
The AGILE Communications Officer in Zamfara State further said the ultimate goal of the initiative is to ensure that every girl remains in school until she completes her education.
“Sometimes, even the lack of water alone is enough to stop a girl from going to school.”
He advocated for an increased public awarenes, noting that petty trading or home responsibilities should not be allowed to keep girls away from school.AGILE Project to Begin First Phase of CCT payment for Zamfara Girl students in July
The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment AGILE Project in Zamfara State has concluded arrangement to begn the first phase of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) disbursement for adolescent girls students effective from July 2025.
The Conditional Cash Transfer Officer of the AGILE project in Zamfara State, Hajiya Ummu- Salma Abubakar Usman made this known while interacting with Journalists in Gusau the Zamfara State Capital on the programme.
According to her, the payment process is currently in the final stage while the student ATMs for the beneficiaries are being produced.
Hajiya Ummu-Salma assured that the validated students would start receiving their payments before the end of this month of July even as some of them have already received text messages of their account numbers.
She explained that the CCT initiative was introduced specifically to support economically disadvantaged parents, enabling them to keep their daughters in school.
The programme officer also highlighted the security challenges in Zamfara State, which have rendered many women widows, and without the financial strength to educate their children.
“This is why the CCT component was introduced into the AGILE project,” she said.
She emphasized that, AGILE does not take children to school directly but rather visits schools to identify and enroll eligible students into the program.
“Under AGILE, we do not collect any fees for student registration,” she added.
Hajiya UmmaSalma Abubukar further explained that, the program targets girls in Primary 6 and JSS 3 as they constitute the key transition points where parents are required to buy new uniforms, shoes, school bags, and pay enrollment fees into JSS1 or SS1.
“If a parent can’t even afford basic food items like millet or maize, how would they think of sending their daughter to school at such a crucial point?” she asked.
“Even if schools are renovated, if poor parents are not financially supported, many children will still remain at home. That’s why this intervention became necessary,” Ummu-salma explained.
She said that enrollment is being done using official school registers and that students are called one by one for proper documentation.
“Each student must be accompanied by her mother or a close relative for the capturing of their name, photograph, Bank Verification Number (BVN), and phone number before final validation.” Ummu-Salma further clarified.
She added that payments are being made in batches ranging from ₦15,000 to ₦25,000.
Hajiya UmmuSalma Abubakar emphasized that, students must maintain at least 70% attendance in school to qualify for the next phase of the payment.
Also contributing, Bashir Kabiru Ahmad, the AGILE Project Communications Officer, said the initiative under the leadership of Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdu Gusau is fully committed to improving the education of adolescent girls in Zamfara State.
Alhaji Bashir Ahmad expressed happiness that, more people are beginning to understand what AGILE is all about, and have keyed in to the public enlightenment drive of the initiative.
According to him, the AGILE intervention covers several areas, including Construction and renovation of schools, Teaching of computer literacy, Vocational skills training, Provision of clean water and toilet facilities in schools snd tackling all barriers that hinder school attendance.
The AGILE Communications Officer in Zamfara State further said the ultimate goal of the initiative is to ensure that every girl remains in school until she completes her education.
“Sometimes, even the lack of water alone is enough to stop a girl from going to school.”
He advocated for an increased public awarenes, noting that petty trading or home responsibilities should not be allowed to keep girls away from school.
