The Kwara State Government, in partnership with the ABYEM Helping Aid Foundation, has launched a program to support 1,300 out-of-school girls across the 16 local government areas of the state. The initiative targets girls aged 15 to 25, including street hawkers and beggars who dropped out of school.
At a stakeholders’ meeting in Ilorin, Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, expressed concern over the increasing number of school dropouts. He explained that the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project includes a “Second Chance” program to help these girls either return to school or acquire vocational skills.
The CEO of ABYEM Helping Aid Foundation, Prince Abiodun Otepola, stated that the project, supported by the World Bank, will identify girls who are willing to return to school and enroll those who prefer vocational training. The program has mapped out 20 vocational centers across the state, with 65 girls from each local government selected for training.
To encourage school enrollment, the government will provide financial support to the girls and their parents. Stakeholders at the meeting, including Parents Teachers Association Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Oniye, urged the government to extend the initiative to young boys who have also dropped out of school, warning that their neglect could pose security risks.
This initiative aims to equip young women with education and skills, helping them build a better future while reducing poverty and unemployment in the state.