The first cohort of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) has recorded remarkable success across the seven pilot Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State. Grateful parents have expressed appreciation to the Nasarawa State Government and the World Bank-supported project for providing financial support to keep their daughters in school.
From Keana to Doma, Awe to Kokona, and Lafia to Wamba and Nasarawa LGAs, thousands of households have received ATM cards loaded with cash support aimed at easing education-related expenses. For many families, the initiative is more than financial aid; it is a lifeline for their children’s education and future.
“We are deeply grateful to AGILE and the Nasarawa State Government for coming to our aid,” said Mrs. Martha Okuba, a parent in Doma LGA. “This support has eased the burden of school expenses and will help our children continue their education without interruption.”
Mallam Ogri Musa, also from Doma, shared similar feelings. “This initiative is a blessing to poor families. With this assistance, our daughters can stay in school and complete their studies,” he said.
The AGILE project, supported by the World Bank, has distributed ₦40,000 per student—₦15,000 for registration and ₦25,000 for transition—along with an additional ₦10,000 incentive for girls who maintain at least 70 percent attendance during the second and third terms. This conditional cash transfer aims to encourage consistent school attendance and reduce dropout rates among adolescent girls in Nasarawa State.
State Project Coordinator, Hajiya Aishatu Aliyu Isoga, explained that the initiative was designed to empower girls through education while reducing financial strain on families. She noted that ATM cards were issued directly to beneficiaries and their caregivers, and school principals were tasked with verifying student identities to maintain transparency and accountability.
According to the AGILE office, 10,539 girls have already benefited from the program across the seven pilot LGAs. Encouraged by the success of the first phase, parents and community leaders are calling on the government to expand and sustain the program. The second cohort, expected to cover 35,000 girls in Akwanga, Obi, Nasarawa Eggon, and Keffi LGAs, is already generating anticipation among residents.
“We call on AGILE and the Nasarawa State Government to keep this momentum going,” said a group of caregivers in Lafia. “Education is the key to our daughters’ future, and this scholarship is opening doors we never thought possible.”