In a move aimed at boosting girl-child education in Zamfara State, Governor Dauda Lawal on Wednesday distributed conditional cash transfers to 8,225 secondary school girls drawn from across the state’s 14 Local Government Areas.
The initiative, which was formally launched at the Garba Nadama Hall in Gusau, provides direct financial support to schoolgirls from vulnerable and low-income households, with each recipient set to receive ₦40,000 in the first phase of the scheme. Additional tranches of ₦10,000 for the second and third terms are expected to bring total annual support to ₦60,000 per girl, channelled through parents or caregivers.
Governor Lawal explained that the programme is part of the state’s engagement with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) and Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Projects, both supported by development partners to improve education and tackle environmental challenges.
Speaking at the event, the governor said a total of ₦322 million had been approved for the first batch of beneficiaries. Disbursement arrangements for a second batch are underway, he added.
“Our administration remains committed to dismantling the barriers—economic, infrastructural or social—that prevent girls in Zamfara from accessing and completing their education. Educating girls is a catalyst for community development,” Lawal said.
Beyond the focus on education, the governor also flagged off the Community Revolving Fund under the ACReSAL project. This component, he explained, targets 500 beneficiaries in Gusau, Bungudu, and Kaura Namoda, providing funding to support small businesses, agriculture and environmental protection initiatives.
Lawal described the revolving fund as a long-term intervention aimed at supporting livelihoods and building resilience in rural areas. He urged recipients to use the funds responsibly to ensure sustainability.
“Our communities face harsh realities, from women struggling to build small businesses to young people searching for opportunities. This fund is designed to offer sustainable financial support at the grassroots, creating local accountability and driving resilience,” he said.
The governor commended the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and other implementing agencies for their roles in advancing the projects.
He reaffirmed his administration’s focus on education and social protection as essential to Zamfara’s development, pledging that his government would continue to prioritise initiatives that address poverty, expand education, and improve livelihoods.
The ACReSAL and AGILE initiatives in Zamfara form part of wider state-level strategies to tackle Nigeria’s growing out-of-school children problem and enhance resilience in semi-arid communities facing environmental degradation and climate risks.
