The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) is for the empowerment of the girl- child and not to make them embrace Western culture.
This clarification was made on Wednesday at a media dialogue in Sokoto.
The State Program Coordinator for AGILE, Dr Mansur Isa Buhari stated this while addressing concerns and misconceptions about the program’s objectives.
He said that AGILE is not intended to westernize the girl child as some have claimed.
The program which was initially implemented in 7 states namely Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Borno, Plateau, Kebbi and Ekiti, is now being expanded to 11 states, with Sokoto being one of the new additions.
The state coordinator explained that AGILE focuses on creating safe and accessible learning spaces, empowering girls with critical life skills and knowledge to navigate adulthood successfully.
He stressed that AGILE operates independently of the school curriculum, aiming to make a positive impact on the lives of girls in the North.
“AGILE program is designed to provide targeted infrastructure development, support to schools attended by adolescent girls and enhancing their learning environments without influencing or altering the school’s curriculum in any way.”
Isa said the program also provides financial incentives, digital skills training, and construction of new classrooms, laboratory and toilets facilities, while renovating dilapidated facilities.
“More than 52,400 adolescent girls will benefit from the financial insensitives in Sokoto”
The program Communication Officer, Hajiya Rabi Gwadabawa, expressed her admiration for the program’s emphasis on personal hygiene, noting thata many adolescent girls lack proper knowledge on self-care.
Gwadabawa added that AGILE program is qdesigned to addresses this gap, promoting overall well-being and empowerment for young girls in the region.