Sokoto AGILE Reviews Safe Spaces Initiative in 100 Schools to Boost Girls’ Education
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
The Sokoto State Government, through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, has held its first biannual review meeting to assess the implementation of the Safe Spaces initiative in 100 selected schools across the state.
The meeting, held at Ibro Grand Hotel, Sokoto, converged together school principals, mentors, government officials, and development partners to evaluate the programme’s progress, identify implementation challenges, and develop strategies to strengthen safe and inclusive learning environments for adolescent girls.
In his welcome address, the Sokoto State AGILE Project Coordinator, Dr. Mansur Isa Buhari, commended stakeholders for their commitment to the initiative and called for sustained collaboration.
“Your dedication has been instrumental to the success of the Safe Spaces programme. We must continue to review our progress, address emerging challenges, and work together to ensure that every adolescent girl in our schools learns in a safe, supportive, and empowering environment,” he said.
The AGILE Project Component Lead for Life Skills, Mairo Sharif, said the review meeting was designed to evaluate implementation and improve programme delivery.
“This biannual review is an opportunity to assess our achievements, identify implementation gaps, strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, and develop practical strategies that will enhance mentorship, safeguarding, and support services for adolescent girls,” Sharif said.
Representing the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, the Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Agency for Mass Education, Dr. Nura Bello, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to quality education.
“The Sokoto State Government remains committed to expanding access to quality education and ensuring that every child, particularly the girl child, has the opportunity to learn in a safe and conducive environment,” Bello said.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Director in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Hauwau Umar Jabo, and the President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Sokoto State Chapter, Comrade Muhammad Ikililu Abubakar, who described the Safe Spaces initiative as a vital intervention for protecting and empowering adolescent girls.
Speaking during the meeting, AGILE Project Component Lead for System Strengthening, Sulaiman Musa, stressed the importance of collaboration.
“Creating safe learning environments requires collective action. We will continue working closely with schools, communities, and relevant government institutions to strengthen safeguarding measures, improve mentorship, and achieve better learning outcomes for our girls,” he said.
Participants reviewed the implementation of the programme across the 100 participating schools, highlighting achievements, discussing challenges, and proposing practical measures to improve mentorship, student support services, and programme delivery.
The meeting also featured a presentation by Abdulganiyu of the Save the Child Initiative, who shared recommendations on strengthening child protection mechanisms and increasing community participation in supporting the Safe Spaces programme.
In his closing remarks, Comrade Muhammad Ikililu Abubakar commended the Sokoto State Government and the AGILE Project for prioritising girls’ education.
“We must sustain this momentum by working together to ensure that every school remains safe, inclusive, and conducive for teaching and learning. Our collective commitment will determine the long-term success of this initiative,” he said.
The meeting concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to strengthening partnerships and sustaining safe learning environments that promote the education, protection, and empowerment of every child in Sokoto State.
