ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Kwara State Government has commenced the mobilisation of School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) across the state to supervise the renovation of public secondary schools, as part of plans to upgrade at least 898 institutions under the World Bank-supported Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project.
The development was disclosed during a high-level sensitisation meeting held in Ilorin on Tuesday, where stakeholders were briefed on the implementation strategy ahead of the infrastructure upgrades.
The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, who led the engagement, noted that the initiative is in line with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s education reform agenda.
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“This intervention reflects the administration’s sustained commitment to transforming learning environments and expanding access to quality education across Kwara State,” he said.
Olohungbebe added that Technical Service Providers have already been deployed to collaborate with the SBMCs in 111 pilot schools, with 50 per cent of the total contract sum disbursed to commence work.
He further explained that 56.7 per cent of the pilot schools fall within the small grants category, while 43.2 per cent are classified under the medium grants category.
According to him, the first phase of the project spans 24 schools in Asa Local Government Area, 25 in Ilorin West, 10 in Offa, 16 in Oyun, and 18 each in Ilorin East and Ilorin South.
Olohungbebe stated that the phase is intended to set the standard for wider implementation.
“This phase will serve as a benchmark for subsequent expansion across public secondary schools in the state,” he said, assuring that additional schools would be included in future phases.
The AGILE Project, supported by the World Bank and other development partners, remains a key component of Kwara State’s strategy to enhance educational infrastructure and improve learning outcomes, particularly for adolescent girls.