The Kwara State Government has begun a two-day capacity-building programme for Technical Service Providers participating in the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, as part of efforts to supervise the rehabilitation of 898 public junior and senior secondary schools across the state.
The training programme, which started in Ilorin on Friday, is aimed at preparing the professionals who will oversee renovation and construction activities under the education intervention initiative.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, said the programme reflects the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s dedication to strengthening the education sector and supporting vulnerable populations, particularly adolescent girls.
Olohungbebe, who also serves as Chairman of the Kwara AGILE State Project Steering Committee, explained that the initiative is designed to expand educational opportunities while also improving the economic prospects of girls in the state.
He noted that the governor’s policies continue to prioritise investments that support both human capital development and social inclusion.
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According to him, the AGILE intervention includes infrastructure upgrades across public schools in the state. He said the government plans to build new classroom blocks and supporting facilities in 26 schools, while rehabilitation works will be carried out in all 898 public junior and senior secondary schools.
The commissioner added that beyond infrastructure development, the project would introduce programmes aimed at supporting girls’ education and personal development.
He explained that the AGILE initiative would provide conditional cash transfers to support school attendance, digital literacy training, life-skills development, and second-chance education opportunities for girls who may have previously dropped out of school.
Olohungbebe also called on the technical professionals participating in the project to approach their assignments with dedication and professionalism.
He stressed that their work would play a key role in ensuring that the project delivers meaningful and lasting improvements to the state’s education system.
“You are professionals with the required expertise, and we expect you to remain diligent and committed so that your work will contribute positively to the legacy of this administration,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Kwara AGILE Project Coordinator, Mr Adeshina Salami, emphasised the need for close collaboration between the Technical Service Providers and School-Based Management Committees to ensure the project is implemented successfully.
Salami explained that schools benefiting from the programme would receive School Improvement Grants, which are divided into three categories—small, medium and large—depending on the specific needs of each institution.
He said the grants would support various improvement initiatives within the schools, while all participating institutions would also receive water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to enhance the learning environment for students.
Salami clarified that the Technical Service Providers are not contractors responsible for executing construction works. Instead, their role is to guide and support School-Based Management Committees in supervising projects, maintaining quality standards and ensuring compliance with environmental and social regulations.
According to him, the professionals will collaborate with school administrators, students and members of host communities throughout the implementation process.
He added that this engagement is expected to strengthen communication among stakeholders, promote safety during construction activities and ensure that renovation works are carried out according to approved standards.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Safeguard Officer from the National Project Coordinating Unit of AGILE in Abuja, Mrs Nkechi Ikemefuna, highlighted the importance of the training in preparing participants to address environmental and social challenges that may arise during the rehabilitation process.
Ikemefuna explained that construction and renovation activities could pose certain environmental or social risks if not properly managed, making it necessary for professionals involved in the project to understand the appropriate preventive measures.
Similarly, the Environmental Safeguard Officer for Kwara AGILE, Mr Ayokanmi Owolabi, said the Technical Service Providers consist of experts from several professional fields.
He listed civil engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, town planners, estate surveyors and land surveyors among the professionals engaged to ensure that all rehabilitation works meet approved technical standards.
Owolabi noted that the training would help participants fully understand and implement the environmental and social management plan guiding the project.
According to him, proper implementation of these guidelines will help prevent potential problems such as noise pollution, poor waste disposal, workplace accidents, community disputes and incidents of gender-based violence during construction activities.
He stressed that adherence to environmental and social safeguards is essential for ensuring that school improvement projects are executed safely and sustainably.
The AGILE programme is a five-year initiative implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education with support from the World Bank. The project aims to increase access to quality secondary education for girls in public schools across Nigeria while also improving learning outcomes and school environments.
Through infrastructure upgrades, financial support programmes and life-skills training, the initiative seeks to address barriers that often prevent girls from completing secondary education.
In Kwara State, officials say the large-scale rehabilitation of schools and the introduction of complementary support programmes are expected to significantly improve both access to education and the overall quality of learning for students.