The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Second Chance Programme has successfully enrolled 147 young girls and married women into learning centers in Kwankwaso town, Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State. This initiative is part of an ongoing campaign to provide educational opportunities for adolescent girls and young women.

Dr. Auwalu Halilu, Technical Assistant for the AGILE Second Chance Programme, made this announcement during the enrollment drive in Kwankwaso. He emphasized the importance of continuing the campaign to bring education to those who had previously missed out. “The essence is the continuation of the enrollment drive campaign for adolescent girls and young women. Today in Kwankwaso, we started with 147 mostly young girls who are hawking and others who are married young women. This is just the beginning in Madobi; we shall still continue,” Dr. Halilu stated.

Cross section of the women beneficiaries

He highlighted the successful turnout, noting the enthusiasm and determination among the young participants. “The turnout was successful, especially among young models. It has shown zeal and will to go back and learn. We hope to merge our efforts with the Agency of Mass Education. There are young models above 25 years of age which the agency of Mass education can take care of even within the AGILE programme. We need to collaborate because, at some point, AGILE alone cannot cover all the centers,” he added.

Dr Auwalu Halilu Technical assistant explaining a point

Dr. Halilu reiterated the programme’s commitment to supporting education in Kano State and aligning with the governor’s mandate to improve the educational system. “We are doing this to support the emergency of education in Kano State and the mandate of the governor to change the narrative about the system of education in Kano State,” he said.

Jamila Ibrahim, the lead person for Component 2.2c of the Second Chance AGILE Programme, mentioned that this was their second visit to Kwankwaso, and the participants had filled out forms with their guardians.

Beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to resume their education. Maimuna Rabiu Musa, one of the beneficiaries, shared her excitement, stating, “I am very grateful as I now return to continue my education with the permission of my husband. I previously stopped school when I was in SS2.”

Another beneficiary, Hadiza Shehu from Kwankwaso town, expressed her appreciation to the federal and state governments and the AGILE programme. “I am grateful for making it possible for me to come back to school free of charge. I previously left school when I was in JSS 3,” she said.

The federal government has proposed to spend N100bn on the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Daily Trust reports.

Analysis of the 2025 budget showed the programme is under the Service Wide Vote (SVW) and domiciled in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

It would be recalled that the feeding programme was suspended on January 12, after the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NSIPA Halima Shehu, was suspended over alleged financial malfeasance.

However, the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, had in August disclosed plans to relaunch the programme.

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Edun, who assured that the government would provide sufficient resources to support and sustain educational programmes nationwide, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to enhancing education through a series of initiatives to grant access to quality education.

Edun said, “Feeding children at school would not only improve their health and wellbeing but also incentivise them to remain in school, thereby reducing the number of out-of-school children.”

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…To settle MDAs electricity debt with N15bn

The total expenditure for the SWV was increased to N6.7tr from the 4.4tr it received in 2024 among which is the settlement of MDAs electricity bills with N15bn.

Daily Trust reports that the Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDC) had claimed that ministries, departments, and agencies including the military owe it N42bn.

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This amount is different from that of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) that earlier in the year threatened to disconnect electricity in the Presidential Villa and 86 federal government’s ministries departments and agencies over N47.1bn outstanding debts as of December 2023.

The SWV also had a N2.3bn provision for entitlements of former presidents/heads of state and vice presidents/chiefs of general staff.

While there is another allocation of N1bn for severance benefits to retired heads of government agencies and parastatals.

Similarly, there is an allocation of N5bn for International sporting competitions and N41.2bn for contribution to international organisations.

Daily Trust

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has Dangote Refinery over the recent slashed in the fuel price, describing it as a timely economic relief for Nigerians.

Speaking with journalists , the Chairman, NLC Lagos Council, Comrade Funmi Sessi said Dangote Refinery has come at the right time.

She expressed optimism that the reduction would ease transportation costs, lower the prices of goods and services, and provide financial relief to citizens struggling with the high cost of living.

“This adjustment promises to offer much-needed relief for millions of Nigerians who have been grappling with high fuel prices and the rising cost of living.

“If not for Dangote refinery,  we believe that government will still be importing fuel.

“But now, Dangote is producing about 650,000 litres of  barrel per day, while both Port Harcourt refinery and the other refurbished one are producing about 210,000 litres of barrels per day. Which is not even up to half of what Dangote is producing.

“With this, Dangote has brought a healthy rivalry to the sector and we have started seeing reduction in the petroleum prices and even Dangote have started taking Petroleum to countries such as Ghana, Togo and other countries. What this means is that it will bring stability on our own currency. In this instance , we want to give it to Dangote. We also appreciate its timely intervention.

“Don’t also forget that the National Assembly is trying to bring out a bill that Nigerians should start domesticating our own currency. It so disheartening that our currency is no more strong, even in the West Africa region.

“So, government should encourage Dangote and more players coming in because this will allow healthy rivalry.

“We welcome this relief, which will help many Nigerians struggling due to the high cost of living, and we urge other stakeholders to emulate the Dangote Group’s example for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Sessi said.

On the proposed 2025 budget ,Comrade Sessi said if the government can be strict in it’s implementation, there is hope for the revival of the economy.

” With the budget , we can see that there is hope for Nigeria. Most especially if government can be strict in it’s implementations, there will will improvement in the security , food production and other areas,” She said.