By Bishop Aturu.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, who also serves as the Chairman of the State Project Steering Committee, paid a post-Kano mission visit to the Kogi Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) office in Lokoja.
The visit aimed to review the outcomes of the recent Kano mission, foster collaboration, and chart a strategic path forward for the AGILE project in Kogi State.
During the interactive session, Hon. Jones engaged with the AGILE team, receiving detailed feedback on the Kano mission, which focused on advancing the Project Development Objectives and aligning with World Bank-supported initiatives.
The Commissioner commended the team’s dedication and emphasized the importance of team spirit and collaboration to ensure the project’s success. He stressed the need to adhere strictly to the Project Implementation Manual (PIM) and World Bank guidelines across all components of the AGILE program.
“The AGILE project is a transformative initiative for Kogi State, and its success hinges on our collective commitment to working as a cohesive unit,” Hon. Jones said.
“We must align our efforts with the established guidelines and procedures to deliver measurable outcomes that empower our adolescent girls and strengthen the education sector.”
Hon. Jones also called on the team to extend full support to the newly appointed Project Coordinator (PC), Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Oricha (FCNA), underscoring the importance of unified efforts in driving the project’s objectives.
“The new PC needs our total support to steer this project to greater heights. Let us work together to ensure Kogi remains a model for gender-inclusive education,” he added.
The Commissioner highlighted recent strides in Kogi’s education sector, including the state’s domestication of the Gender in Education Policy, a critical step toward bridging the gender gap in education.
The visit also provided an opportunity to outline next steps for the AGILE project, including intensified efforts to improve school infrastructure, timely completion of the 2025/2026 workplan, enhance System Strengthening, and promote community engagement to ensure girls’ access to quality education.
Hon. Jones urged the team to prioritize stakeholder collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and transparency in project implementation.
The new Project Coordinator pledged to build on the team’s progress and drive innovative solutions to address challenges in the education sector.
The Kogi AGILE project continues to gain momentum as a cornerstone of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s agenda to reposition education and empower young girls across the state. With renewed focus and collaboration, the initiative is poised to make a lasting impact on Kogi’s educational landscape.
The AGILE team expressed gratitude for the Commissioner’s leadership and reaffirmed their commitment to the project’s goals.
