Katsina state Governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, on Wednesday, disbursed N450 million to 100 secondary schools in the state at a ceremony held at the Government Day Secondary School, Doro, Bindawa Local Government Area where he launched the second phase of the AGILE programme.
Speaking at the event, Governor Radda reaffirmed his preparedness to pursue the development of education in the state through a series of programmes.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, stated that: “Mallam Dikko Radda emphasized that the programme has no negative effect on the moral standard of the populace in the state and their family members.”
He enjoined people in the state to resist any negative perceptions that could further make the northern region backwards.
Governor Radda said the grant released under the AGILE programme is a loan payable in a stipulated period.
He said the state government had started preparation for the second round of the construction of another 75 secondary schools in the state.
In her remarks, Katsina State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar Yar’adua bemoaned the report of 13.2 million school-age children now out of school across the country, of which about 50 per cent are girls.
Also speaking, Hajiya Hadiza Saulawa lauded the bold steps taken by Governor Radda in addressing the problem in the state.
She commended stakeholders in the state for supporting the policies of Radda aimed at repositioning the educational sector.
Giving an update on the AGILE programme, the coordinator, Dr Mustapha Shehu, said the construction of the second phase of the remaining 75 secondary schools would commence in January 2024 and be completed in the third quarter of the year.
According to him, the girl component of AGILE program was introduced following the poverty mapping and needs assessment, which discovered that economic factors hindered many parents from providing their girl child with basic educational needs and to transit to secondary schools after completing their primary education.
(Governor Radda disbursing a cheque to one of the schools’ management)
