Kaduna State Empowers Over 40,000 Adolescent Girls with Critical Life Skills via AGILE Project

In a major push to empower the next generation of women, the Kaduna State Government has reached over 40,000 adolescent girls through a specialized life skills education initiative.

Governor Uba Sani is now moving to make this program a permanent fixture within the state’s educational system. According to a statement released on Friday by the Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, the Governor plans to submit an Executive Bill to the State House of Assembly. If passed, this legislation will mandate life skills as a compulsory part of the curriculum for all public secondary schools in Kaduna.

The initiative, currently being executed under the World Bank-assisted Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, aims to:

• Enhance Girl-Child Education: Provide support that keeps girls in school.
• Go Beyond Academics: Equip students with practical, real-world capabilities to navigate life challenges.
• Institutionalize Progress: Ensure the program remains a lasting legacy through legal backing.

The program has already impacted a significant number of students, reaching 40,536 girls and 1,864 boys across various senior secondary schools. To facilitate this, 1,141 educators have been professionally trained to act as mentors and deliver the specialized curriculum.

These updates were shared by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, during a strategic session in Abuja dedicated to the institutionalization of life skills. Representing Governor Sani, Sambo explained that the government is focused on a more comprehensive educational model that values emotional intelligence, resilience, and leadership alongside traditional academic achievements.

The statement emphasized that the administration’s objective is to intentionally foster practical skills that empower youth, particularly girls, to overcome life’s obstacles and emerge as accountable leaders within their societies.

The commissioner further noted that this educational reform signifies a shift away from conventional teaching methods focused on memorization. Instead, the state is adopting a more comprehensive framework that prioritizes the practical use of knowledge and the emotional growth of students.

The curriculum is designed to be comprehensive, addressing critical areas such as personal empowerment, health and nutrition, reproductive wellness, and the prevention of gender-based violence, alongside contemporary issues like climate change and social inclusion.

According to the Commissioner, the initiative is already yielding positive results, evidenced by a noticeable boost in student self-confidence, a decline in truancy, and a rise in overall school enrollment. Beyond academic metrics, the program has fostered significant behavioral improvements, with students demonstrating stronger interpersonal skills, a greater appreciation for diversity, and increased empathy toward one another.

Maryam Dangaji, the AGILE State Project Coordinator, verified that the program is now active in every senior secondary school throughout Kaduna. She emphasized that this extensive reach was a deliberate strategy to ensure every girl in the state has access to the essential tools required for her social and personal growth.

Dr. Habiba Mohammed, Executive Director of the Centre for Girls’ Education, lauded Kaduna’s strategy, calling it a blueprint for sustainable, girl-centered educational reform within the country.

Legislative support for the initiative appears strong, as Emmanuel Kantiok, Chairman of the House Committee on Education, indicated that lawmakers are ready to expedite the proposed bill. He informed stakeholders that the Assembly is committed to passing the legislation following the conclusion of necessary consultations, ensuring that life skills education receives both permanent legal status and dedicated funding within the state budget.