Breaking: Enugu Joins AGILE Programme To Expand Adolescent Education

Enugu State has been formally admitted into the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE),

AGILE is a World Bank–assisted programme targeting expanded access to safe, inclusive, and equitable secondary education for adolescents across Nigeria.

The state’s inclusion was confirmed after it met all eligibility requirements, including the payment of counterpart funding, which enabled it to join other participating states already implementing the multi-year education initiative.

A statement issued by the Project Coordinator, Enugu State AGILE office, Dr. Ebele Georgina Chukwu Onuora, said the onboarding reflected a major milestone in the state’s efforts to strengthen human capital development and improve learning outcomes.

She credited the progress to the support of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whose administration facilitated the approval processes needed for the state to qualify.

“The onboarding positions Enugu State to implement targeted interventions that will expand access to quality education, improve school safety, and equip adolescents, particularly girls with essential skills for the future,” Dr. Onuora said.

AGILE, launched by the Nigerian government with funding from the World Bank, seeks to remove structural and social barriers that impede adolescents from enrolling in or completing secondary school.

The programme combines infrastructure investment, teaching support, behavioural change initiatives, and community engagement.

According to details released by the state implementation team, Enugu will benefit from a range of components under the programme, including:

Infrastructure Development: construction of classrooms, rehabilitation of dilapidated school buildings, and upgrading of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities to improve learning conditions.

Teaching and Learning Support: provision of instructional materials, deployment of digital learning resources, and enhancement of teaching quality through technology-driven tools.

Adolescent Empowerment Programmes: life-skills training, digital literacy programmes, and social initiatives aimed at boosting confidence, leadership capacity, and community participation among young people.

Strengthening School Safety: adoption of measures designed to protect learners, prevent school-related gender-based violence, and provide safe spaces that encourage regular attendance.

The programme also emphasises inclusion, targeting reduced dropout rates, support for disadvantaged learners, and improved access for adolescents with disabilities.

Officials said the onboarding is expected to accelerate Enugu’s education reforms and contribute to national efforts to build a more resilient and skilled youth population. The state’s AGILE office noted that preparatory work for full-scale implementation is underway, with focus areas aligned to World Bank requirements and federal guidelines.

The statement was signed by Offonabo Chimdike, Communication Officer, AGILE Enugu.