Niger State Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education, the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, in collaboration with Ilimi Children’s Fund and The Farid Centre, has officially flagged off girls’ scholarship and distribution of assistive equipment to Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty-Two special need students.
While unveiling the scholarship programme at the Abdulkadir Kure University Minna, on Monday, 28th April 2025, the wife of the Niger State governor, Hajiya Fatima Umaru Mohammed Bago, noted that the scholarship goes beyond providing financial support, adding that it symbolizes hope of better opportunity for every girl child in Niger State.
Fatima Bago also stressed that every scholarship given is a declaration that every girl’s dreams are valid, saying that their ambitions are recognized and their future is worth investing in, promising that every girl child, regardless of physical ability, can access quality education.
The governor’s wife, who is also the Girl Child Ambassador for AGILE North Central, had pledged to continue amplifying the voices of the girls and advocating for a society where girls’ potential is recognised and nurtured.
She disclosed that N348, 880, 000 was shared to 8.722 girls as scholarship.
“Our special need students, know that you are the leaders, innovators and champions of tomorrow, the scholarship forms in your hands, the assistive tools you received and the instrument for building your dreams, cherish them, use them well and know that we are praying for your success always,” she said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Niger State, Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, maintained that government stands at the intersection of hope and opportunity, noting that the government also recognised the power of education as a transformative tool that can uplift the entire community.
“Government is not just investing in the future of young girls, but we are also fostering an inclusive environment that will ensure every girl child, regardless of their challenges, has access to quality education and the resources they need to thrive.”
According to Dr. Asabe, today marks the beginning of a beautiful chapter, I am excited to see the incredible achievements that will spring from this initiative.
The AGILE Project Coordinator, Niger State, Hajiya Maimuna Tahir, explained that the scholarship initiative reflects the Niger State alignment to goals of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), that is prioritizing gender equality, inclusive education, and social justice, adding that none of these would be achieved without the support of the state governor, Muhammad Bago, who is always passionate about the girl child education and empowerment.
Tahir revealed that the scholarship is not merely financial aid, pointing out that it is a beacon of hope to unlocking doors to quality education for adolescent girls, fostering their aspiration, and equipping them to become leaders of tomorrow.
The AGILE boss lauded the wife of the governor for her dedication and commitment to the course of the girl child.
“To our partners, government stakeholders, educators, community leaders and traditional fathers, your collaboration is the beacon of this progress. To our notable girls and special needs beneficiaries, today’s event is a testament to our belief in your boundless potential. Let us carry forward this moment with the New Niger Agenda. Together, we can dismantle barriers and grow a future where every girl child, including those with disabilities, can claim their rightful place in shaping a prosperous Niger State,” Tahir emphasised.
There were goodwill messages by the Emir of Kagara, Alhaji Mohammed Attahiru Gunna, representative of Emir of Minna, the Special Adviser to Governor Bago on Girl Child Education, Hajiya Hanatu Jibrin Salihu, as well as all partners.
Highlights of the event were the symbolic representation of cheques, wheelchairs, eye glasses, as well as hearing aids to the beneficiaries.
