World Bank Restates Commitment to Girls’ Education in Kaduna

The World Bank has promised improved investment in girls’ education in Kaduna and other states of Nigeria under the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project.

This was as the state Governor Uba Sani disclosed that the World Bank was currently funding eight projects in the state to the tune of over $885 million.

Regional Vice President of the World Bank, Ousmane Diagana disclosed this on Wednesday when he inspected AGILE Intervention Project at Government Girsl Secondary School Kawo, Kaduna, staying that, the Project was World Bank’s response to negative statistics of out of school children in Nigeria.

According to him, “reports have it that there are about 18 million out-of-school children in Nigeria and that 90 per cent of this number are in Northern Nigeria, the majority of whom are girls. So, AGILE is a response to addressing this issue, to create space for girls to go to school and thrive. This will impact society in the long run.”

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While expressing satisfaction with the performance of the GGSS Kawo students who made presentations during the inspection programme, the World Bank Regional Vice President said the Bank will continue to invest in girls’ education in Nigeria, particularly Northern Nigeria. “You will see more of AGILE Projects everywhere,” he said.

Earlier, at the government, when Diagana paid a courtesy visit on Governor Uba Sani, the Governor said that Kaduna State can be a model for effective donor-funded World Bank projects in Nigeria, with its strengthened systems and consistent leadership.

According to the governor, the World Bank Projects are ‘’aimed at improving education, healthcare, infrastructure, environmental resilience, agriculture, and social welfare. These projects have not only reinforced the state’s development agenda but have also contributed to reducing poverty and enhancing the quality of life across various sectors,’’ he added.

Governor Uba Sani further said that Kaduna State looks forward to strengthening the existing partnerships with the World Bank and exploring new areas of collaboration.’’

He listed the eight projects that the World Bank is funding in the state, totalling over $885 million, which include the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, with $80 million in credit.

The Governor said that the AGILE Project “has advanced secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls, achieving over 70% disbursement and notable progress in school infrastructure and enrolment campaigns.’’

He further disclosed that the Accelerating Nutrition Results Nigeria (ANRiN) Project has been fully disbursed and now closed, adding that ‘’the $17 million health and nutrition project significantly improved nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescents, and children, helping reduce maternal and child mortality.’’

According to him, the State has also benefited from the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (NG-CARES), which is designed as a COVID-19 recovery effort, adding that, ‘’this $20 million project is supporting vulnerable households and small enterprises. Approximately 45% has been disbursed and fully utilized to date.’’

He disclosed that Kaduna State has drawn from a $700 million pool of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), adding that the project addresses land degradation and climate resilience through watershed management and afforestation.

The Governor of Kaduna State further disclosed that ‘’over $5.8 million has been disbursed, with implementation gathering momentum.’’

On Kaduna State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (KADRAAMP), he said that ‘’this $20 million rural infrastructure project is enhancing agricultural market access through rural road rehabilitation. Half the loan has been utilized, and requests for 2025 counterpart funding are under review.’’

According to him, Kaduna State’s portion of the $700 million Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Program “is progressing, with over $4.2 million drawn down.’’