Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal, has officially launched the disbursement of funds to 8,225 girl students under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, through its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme, amounting to ₦322 million approved for the first batch.
In addition, the Governor also flagged off the disbursement of the Community Revolving Fund CRF to 500 beneficiaries as part of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Governor Dauda Lawal stated that the initiatives are aimed at improving access to education for girls and building community resilience to climate change through sustainable livelihood support.
He explained that, the girls were selected from the poorest and most vulnerable households
Dr lawal maintained that, the beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer would receive 40, 000 to support their continued enrollment and transition through school.
“Additional tranches of 10,000 naira each for the second and third school terms will bring the total support to 60, 000 naira per person through the parents or the caregivers.
“A total Sum of Three Hundred and Twenty-Two Million Naira is approved for this First Batch. Presently arrangements for the second Batch of beneficiaries is in process”
On ACReSAL project, Governor Lawal asserted that, the Community Revolving Fund to 500 beneficiaries are for selected communities of Gusau, Bungudu, and Kaura Namoda Local Governments intended to boost grassroots driven environmental and economic interventions.
It also reflected the government commitment to combating land degradation, promoting sustainable agriculture, and improving livelihoods amid climate challenges.
“Our communities face hardships and challenges such as women striving to grow their small businesses, youths yearning for opportunities, and rural households struggling to access basic services”
“With the Community Revolving Fund, we are introducing a sustainable mechanism that empowers these communities to access funds and take ownership of their development journey”.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdu Gusau, explained that 8,225 adolescent girls have been duly identified, registered, and verified to benefit from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) initiative from the 14 local government areas of the state.
She stated that, the 40,000 naira is a timely intervention to address key financial barriers to education and improve the girls long-term prospects.
Hajiya Sa’adatu also announced that all identification and ATM cards for the beneficiaries are ready for collection.
“This will ensure that each beneficiary can access their funds directly and safely,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary described the CCT initiative as a powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty and low school completion rates among girls.
“It is also a shared responsibility, as beneficiaries must maintain at least 70% school attendance to remain eligible—reinforcing the importance of punctuality, discipline, and commitment,” she emphasized.
She urged the beneficiaries to take full ownership of the opportunity and to use the support strictly for its intended purpose.
Speaking on the ACReSAL project, Hajiya Sa’adatu highlighted that, the initiative represents a bold response to the growing threats of land degradation, desert encroachment, and climate-induced vulnerabilities.
“The CRF will empower local communities to engage in dry-season farming, adopt climate-smart technologies, improve water resource management, and strengthen small enterprises.
“I commend the Community Associations and Catchment Management Committees for their dedication and ownership throughout this process,” she concluded.
The Beneficiaries commended Zamfara State Government and other stakeholders for the gesture.
The event attracted top government officials, traditional rulers and other partners.
COV/AMINU DALHATU
