Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment(AGILE) has trained 2,234 facilitators and 60 mentors in life skills and digital literacy in Kano.

Ahmed Jibril, deputy project coordinator, AGILE, stated this during an interactive session with media on Tuesday in Kano.

“AGILE is providing essential life skills and digital literacy training to thousands of girls across the state.

“To date, 60 mentors and 2,234 facilitators have been trained in life skills, benefiting over 148,000 female students across 44 LGAs in Kano.

“The program has also equipped 100 schools with solar facilities, computers, internet access, projectors, tables, and chairs,” he added.

According to him, 220 teachers have been trained in remote learning, enabling students to access lessons online.

He noted that the program spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Education and supported by the World Bank, was making significant strides in improving girls’ access to secondary education in Kano State.

Jibril stated that the initiative was part of a nationwide effort implemented across 18 states, targets socio-cultural, financial, and infrastructural barriers that hinder the education of girls in Nigeria.

He announced that a total of 130 new secondary schools would be constructed across 24 targeted local government areas in Kano State.

Jibril stated that the AGILE Project provides second-chance opportunities for out-of-school girls and dropouts unable to study in conventional schools.

He revealed that 5,100 out-of-school girls from 13 LGAs have registered to be enrolled in adult education centers for second-chance education.

“So far, about 74,452 girls have benefited from the financial assistance of the AGILE Project across 19 LGAs in the 1st and 2nd cohorts. An additional 39,000 girls have been registered in the 3rd cohort,” he explained.

He then called on the media to take a leading role in promoting girls’ education in Kano State.

Earlier, a Media consultant , Maude Gwadabe stressed the need for grassroots enlightenment to ensure that communities understand the significance of educating girls and the positive impact it has on societal development.

He emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the value of educating girls, urging the media to help drive this critical initiative.

NAN

Schools resumption: Kano records high turnout of teachers, students

Primary and post-primary schools in Kano resumed on Monday for the second term of the 2025 academic session, with monitoring teams reporting a strong turnout of both teachers and students.

A statement from Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru, Director of Public Enlightenment at the Kano State Ministry of Education, confirmed that most schools had teachers and students present by 7:30 a.m.

“Reports indicate a satisfactory turnout, with schools opening between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., and only a few cases of absenteeism,” the statement said.

It also noted that teachers made early preparations for lessons and ensured that school facilities were cleaned for the smooth start of the term.

Kano State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ali Makoda, commended the positive turnout and urged principals and head teachers to maintain the momentum.

Makoda also expressed gratitude to parents and guardians for their cooperation, stressing their vital role in supporting the government’s efforts to improve educational standards and student performance.

He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to launching initiatives aimed at enhancing access to quality education and urged teachers to work together to meet expectations.

As usual, the Ministry of Education, along with its parastatals, including the Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, Directors, and Deputy Directors, conducted school assessments on the first day of the term to ensure strong academic performance.

Stakeholders in Kano have raised urgent calls for the government to invest in constructing perimeter fences around public schools.

This request comes amid rising incidents of theft, vandalism and disruptions that are severely affecting the academic environment in public schools.

In recent months, several schools in the state have experienced break-ins, with criminals stealing valuable equipment like computers, ceiling fans and zinc. 

The stakeholders made the call on Friday in a separate interview in some of the schools visited.

They stated that erecting perimeter fences around schools would help prevent trespassing.

Haruna Ibrahim, the Headmaster of Chula Central Primary School in Ajingi Local Government Area, pointed out that the lack of fencing had made the school a target for frequent trespassing by local residents.

“Trespassers disrupt our classes when they pass through the school during school hours,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim further raised concerns about the inadequate number of security personnel, noting that the school, which serves 1,270 pupils and has 12 teachers, only has one security guard.

Murtala Aliyu, the Assistant Headmaster of Garindau Central Primary School in Warawa Local Government Area, mentioned that although the school was fenced, it still required two more security guards to protect it from theft.

“Just yesterday, thieves entered the school and stole valuables due to the insufficient number of security guards. We only have one security guard for a school with 1,270 pupils and 12 teachers,” Aliyu said.

Similarly, Headmaster of Dawakin Tofa Model Primary School, in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, Sabi’u Idris, emphasized that the lack of a perimeter fence had made the school vulnerable to theft.

Idris also lamented the absence of security guards at the school, which, he said, had led to the theft of its valuables.

One of the parents in Chula community of Ajingi local government, Amina Shehu, lamented that the incidence undermine the learning experience for pupils and students in the area.

She called on the state government to build perimeter fence and employ additional security guards.

Another parent in Dawakin-Tofa local government, Musa Isa, also decried that destruction of classrooms and school property, has left both students and teachers frustrated and discouraged.

Isa appealed to the state government to provide adequate security to the school.

This paper reports Gov. Abba Kabir- Yusuf had declared a State of Emergency in the education sector to revitalize and advance education in the state.