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The Kwara State Government says it has intensified efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children through targeted interventions under the World Bank-assisted Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project. Speaking during the third-quarter inter-ministerial press briefing in Ilorin on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, said that over 37,000 girls have so far been captured to receive a cash grant of not less than ₦130,000 each to encourage school attendance. “No girl in Kwara State will receive less than ₦130,000 to go to school. We have paid our counterpart funds, and the disbursement will begin soon,” he said. Olohungbebe noted that the state government has cancelled PTA fees to remove financial barriers preventing children from attending school. He added that a second-chance education programme has also been introduced for older youths who missed earlier opportunities. ALSO READ:Consolidate on INEC’s gains under Mahmood, CSOs tell Amupitan The Commissioner reaffirmed the state’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 — inclusive and equitable quality education for all by 2030 — through initiatives aimed at empowering girls and ensuring that “no child is denied access to learning.” Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Afees Abolore Alabi, said that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has secured and approved the revitalization of the National Programme for Food Security (NPFS) after almost three decades, signalling a renewed drive toward strengthening food systems, revitalizing legacy agricultural programmes, and achieving sustainable food security in Kwara State. Dr. Alabi explained that the project, co-funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), marks a significant milestone in the Governor’s effort to modernize the agricultural sector and empower rural communities. He described the initiative as one that will reposition the state’s agricultural landscape for inclusive growth and productivity. The Commissioner noted that the renewed NPFS will focus on key interventions, including irrigation infrastructure, farmer capacity building, value chain development, and improved access to credit and markets. These efforts, he said, align with the administration’s vision of creating a self-sustaining agricultural economy that guarantees food availability and supports smallholder farmers. The revitalized NPFS is projected to directly benefit thousands of smallholder farmers through improved yields, access to irrigation facilities, and expanded market opportunities, while contributing significantly to the state’s food security targets. He further highlighted that the Ministry has made significant progress in farmer empowerment, mechanization, and value chain expansion. The State Government distributed 16 tractors and essential farm inputs — including maize, rice, and soybean seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, and knapsack sprayers — across all 16 local government areas. In addition to the 32 tractors earlier distributed, these interventions are enhancing farm productivity, promoting cluster-based farming, and strengthening cooperative linkages designed to improve efficiency and rural livelihoods. Dr. Alabi added that the Ministry has also intensified collaboration with relevant agencies and institutions to advance food production and agribusiness. This includes partnerships with the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) to strengthen the rice value chain, ongoing collaboration with Olam Group to position Kwara as a leading hub for soybean production and processing, and strategic ties with universities and research institutions to promote student-led agribusiness initiatives across the state. Commending Governor Abdulrazaq for his unwavering commitment to agricultural transformation, the Commissioner described him as a leader whose foresight continues to attract critical development partnerships to Kwara State. He concluded that these milestones reflect the Abdulrazaq administration’s strategic commitment to building a modern and resilient agricultural sector capable of driving inclusive growth and ensuring food security for all, while reaffirming the government’s dedication to consolidating progress and unlocking new frontiers of growth in the sector. He further assured that the State Government remains committed to sustaining these gains through effective monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and continued investment in technology-driven agriculture. NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
