As part of efforts to boost school enrollment and empower youths in Zamfara, Governor Dauda Lawal has released ₦322 million in conditional cash transfers to support 8,225 adolescent girls.
The initiative is designed to tackle the root causes of school dropouts among young girls, particularly those from low-income families, by reducing the financial pressure that often forces them out of the classroom.
It forms a key component of the Lawal administration’s broader strategy to improve education and expand social protection across the state, especially in underserved communities.
To ensure direct impact at the individual level, each beneficiary is set to receive ₦40,000 initially, followed by ₦10,000 each for the second and third terms, bringing the total support to ₦60,000 per school session.
The disbursement was officially launched yesterday, at the Garba Nadama Hall in the J.B. Yakubu State Secretariat, Gusau, with all 14 local government areas of Zamfara included in the first phase of the programme.
According to the governor, the initiative falls under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project and is integrated with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) programme.
“This support is specifically targeted at adolescent girls from the poorest households to help them stay in school and complete their education,” Lawal stated.
While addressing the gathering, the governor reiterated his commitment to ensuring inclusive education for all children in Zamfara, noting that the empowerment of girls plays a crucial role in community development.
“We are committed to tackling and overcoming all barriers, economic, infrastructural, or social, that prevent our daughters from accessing and completing their education,” he said. “For when you educate a girl, you educate a village.”
In addition to the girl-child education fund, Lawal also announced the disbursement of a Community Revolving Fund to 500 beneficiaries from Gusau, Bungudu, and Kaura Namoda.
The fund, under the ACReSAL project, is designed to support local environmental and economic resilience initiatives.
“Our communities face hardships like women building small businesses, youths seeking opportunities, and rural households accessing basic services,” the governor said.
“The Community Revolving Fund offers sustainable funding to support development, marking a shift towards resilience and accountability.”
He urged all beneficiaries to utilise the financial support responsibly, emphasizing transparency and long-term impact.
“What you receive today is a seed. I urge you to nurture it, grow it, and let it blossom into a tree of change for your families and your communities,” Lawal said.
He further commended the efforts of implementing ministries and technical partners and reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to policies that drive grassroots development.
