More than 12,133 schoolgirls in Bauchi State have received direct financial support under the Conditional Cash Transfer component of the Adolescents Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, AGILE, Project.
The State AGILE Project Coordinator, Hajiya Ladi Hamma stated this at a news conference on the progress of implementation Monday in Bauchi.
Hamma noted that each beneficiary received an initial payment of N40,000, credited directly into their personal bank accounts to support school registration, transition and attendance.
She explained that the cash support formed part of a broader incentive package under which every eligible girl is expected to receive N60,000.
She said, however, that the incentive will provided as long as every girl maintains at least 70 percent school attendance.
‘’Subsequent payments of N10,000 will continue periodically until the student completes the junior or senior secondary cycle,” she said.
Hamma added that the distribution of ATM cards to enable access to the funds is nearing completion, with the process being handled through First City Monument Bank.
She noted that only a few beneficiaries are yet to receive their cards, assuring that the project team is working to conclude distribution within the week.
The coordinator revealed that the programme is expanding significantly, with plans to enrol 40,000 girls across 200 schools in the next phase, doubling the current coverage of 100 schools.
“This scale-up is a critical step toward reducing the financial barriers that prevent girls from continuing their education,” she said.
Hamma, however, identified lack of documentation, particularly National Identification Numbers, birth certificates and Bank Verification Numbers as a major challenge affecting enrolment and account opening for some students.
She appealed to parents to urgently secure the required documents for their wards.
Hamma emphasised that the financial support was paid directly to beneficiaries.
The coordinator urged parents to ensure that the funds are used strictly for educational needs,
She also stressed that the intervention was designed to improve girls access to quality schooling and long-term opportunities in Bauchi State. (NAN)
