Nigeria’s efforts to improve human capital development for women and girls continue to record major progress as the International Development Association drives nationwide impact through projects such as AGILE, NFWP, IMPACT, ANRiN, NASSP-SU, and NG-CARES. These initiatives are helping adolescent girls, women, and vulnerable families gain better access to education, healthcare, financial services, nutrition support, and economic opportunities. A key highlight is that over 4 million girls have already benefited from AGILE, with a projected target of reaching 15 million girls by 2028.
AGILE, launched in 2021, is transforming secondary education for girls in 18 states by providing safe schools, improved learning environments, life skills, digital literacy, and scholarships. The programme reports that more than 4 million girls have benefited so far, with Nigeria aiming to reach 15 million by 2028. Between 2022 and 2025, AGILE supported 2.1 million adolescent girls through upgraded infrastructure such as 13,000 classrooms and 8,900 WASH facilities, while 466,876 vulnerable girls received scholarships. The project also delivered digital literacy training to 225,000 students and created safe spaces where 200,000 girls learned about reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, and building confidence.
According to project officials, AGILE is helping Nigeria “create a generation of confident, informed, and empowered young women who can overcome barriers and shape their futures.”
The Nigeria for Women Program (NFWP), active since 2019, continues empowering women aged 18 and above across six states through Women Affinity Groups, savings, lending, and livelihood support. Over 1 million women have benefited, forming over 22,000 WAGs and saving more than 5 billion naira. From 2022 onward, 19,200 of these groups supported 400,000 women, with savings reaching an estimated US$6 million. Many women are now able to access markets, credit, and decision-making opportunities.
In the health sector, IMPACT and ANRiN are reducing child and maternal mortality by expanding immunization, malaria prevention, and nutrition services. Since 2021, IMPACT has strengthened health worker training, vaccine delivery, and facility upgrades across 28 states. Combined with ANRiN, which focuses on affordable nutrition interventions in 11 states, the programmes have reached more than 13.5 million beneficiaries. From 2021 to 2025, 3.56 million women accessed malaria prevention services, while 919,000 pregnant and lactating mothers received essential nutrition support. ANRiN alone reached 9 million children and 4.3 million women with nutrition services.
Nigeria’s social protection reforms are also advancing through NASSP-SU, launched in 2023 to expand shock-responsive cash transfers nationwide. The initiative targets 56 million poor and vulnerable people and has already supported over 42 million beneficiaries with digital cash payments. Women remain central to the support system, making up 94 percent of recipients of regular transfers. The project continues to strengthen digital payments, social registries, and community resilience.
NG-CARES, introduced in 2021 to cushion the impact of COVID-19, has supported more than 17 million poor households and small businesses. Over 12 million people accessed basic services, while 3.5 million farmers received agricultural support. The programme provides cash transfers, livelihood grants, food security support, and public works interventions to boost recovery.
Officials note that these outcomes help Nigeria tackle long-standing challenges facing women and girls. Many girls still face early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and barriers to completing school. Gender-based violence remains a concern, and women often have limited access to financial services, productive jobs, and profitable farming opportunities. These gaps reduce national productivity, making investment in education, health, skills, and economic inclusion essential for growth.
The World Bank Group says its multi-pronged strategy in Nigeria is strengthening girls’ education, adolescent health, economic opportunities, and protection systems. By linking interventions across sectors, progress in one area reinforces gains in another. The Bank reports that its approach integrates innovations such as Women Affinity Groups, digital financial inclusion, and strengthened social protection systems. Partnerships with the Gates Foundation, FCDO, UN agencies, IFC, and MIGA have helped expand private sector engagement, women’s employment, and access to essential services. According to the institution, these efforts have “driven substantial progress in closing gender gaps and building human capital for Nigeria’s future.”
Across project sites, testimonies highlight real-world change. At Hassu Iro Inko Girls College in Katsina State, students now learn in renovated classrooms that support a safe and productive environment. At Government Girls College, Katsina, adolescent girls gather in newly created safe spaces where they receive mentorship and life-skills training. One message echoed across communities is that empowering girls today strengthens Nigeria’s next generation.
Key lessons from the projects show that flexible, community-managed grants and stronger school committees are crucial for AGILE’s success. For NFWP, the experience of Women Affinity Groups demonstrates the importance of collective action, regular meetings, and internal lending in building confidence, financial capital, and long-term empowerment. Both programmes emphasize engaging communities and addressing social norms to ensure that interventions remain sustainable.
Looking ahead, the World Bank says its 2024–2030 Gender Strategy will guide future support by accelerating gender equality as a foundation for inclusive growth. In Nigeria, this includes expanding gender analysis, strengthening collaboration with the private sector, and supporting government-led reforms through financing, monitoring, capacity building, and policy improvements.
many students who are name shortlisted have not received they’re money, because the information is not circulate in many schools. especially in Asa local government we are expecting them to come to schools instead of zone.
Sad to know this. What’s your state, and have you notified your state’s AGILE?