Gombe gov’t awards scholarships to 12,101 girls
The Gombe State Government on Friday commenced the disbursement of the School Improvement Grants and Girls’ Scholarships under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment Project, a World Bank-assisted project aimed at improving access to quality education for adolescent girls and enhancing school infrastructure across the state.
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, who was represented by Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Jatau, described the event as another milestone in the state’s educational advancement and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to inclusive and quality education for all.
He said, “Over 12,101 female students from public junior and senior secondary schools across the state will benefit from scholarships worth ₦726 million in the 2024/2025 academic session.”
He noted that the gesture targets female students because of their proven resilience, care, and social contributions to family and community development.
“Experience has shown that when you care for the girl child, you are also caring for the family, community, and the nation. This investment in our girls is an investment in the future of Gombe State,” he stated.
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The governor also announced the disbursement of School Improvement Grants to 537 public secondary schools across the state to enhance infrastructure, safety, and learning conditions.
The grants, he explained, were categorised based on school population:
Small Schools – ₦23.1 million each (for schools with about 200 students).
Medium Schools – ₦46.2 million each (for schools with about 500 students).
Large Schools – ₦92.4 million each (for schools with over 1,000 students).
He commended the World Bank, AGILE Project Implementation Unit, and the Gombe State Ministry of Education for their commitment to the success of the initiative, urging School-Based Management Committees and communities to ensure proper use, monitoring, and maintenance of the facilities.
Commissioner for Education, Dr Aishatu Maigari, described the flag-off as a landmark in Yahaya’s vision to transform education, particularly in the basic and secondary school sectors.
“This initiative represents a shared vision of inclusion, equity, and sustainable development. Through Your Excellency’s leadership, Gombe has domesticated and successfully implemented the AGILE project to reach thousands of girls while revitalising community participation in school governance,” she said.
She called on SBMCs to ensure judicious use of funds and congratulated the scholarship beneficiaries, urging them to remain focused and committed to their studies.
AGILE Project Coordinator, Dr Amina Haruna, explained that the project’s goal is to remove barriers to girls’ education by providing financial support, improving infrastructure, and strengthening school governance.
She detailed the processes for identifying beneficiaries and developing School Improvement Plans, stressing accountability and transparency in fund utilisation.
“The AGILE project goes beyond promises — it is practical action that empowers girls and strengthens schools at the grassroots. Today, we are turning advocacy into tangible results,” Haruna stated.
She expressed appreciation to the governor for his leadership and to all stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders, for supporting the advocacy and implementation process.
The event concluded with the symbolic presentation of ATM cards to scholarship beneficiaries and cheques to school representatives for the improvement grants.
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