Zamfara AGILE Reviews Life Skills Programme, Targets 87,209 Adolescent Girls by 2028

The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project in Zamfara State has conducted a bi-annual review meeting of its Life Skills Sub-Component 2.2A, aimed at strengthening implementation and improving outcomes for adolescent girls across the state.

The meeting, held in Gusau, brought together AGILE implementation partners, project team members, principals, school-based mentors, guidance and counselling officers, and other stakeholders involved in delivering life skills training through the project’s safe-space sessions.

Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Project Coordinator of AGILE Zamfara, Dr. Salisu Dalhatu, said the review was designed to assess progress, achievements and challenges recorded during implementation and develop practical strategies for the next implementation cycle.

Dr. Dalhatu described the implementation of the life skills component as successful, noting that the programme is targeting 87,209 adolescent girls by the completion of the project in 2028.

He disclosed that 11,200 girls were enrolled in the first cohort and underwent five months of training, with 11,140 successfully graduating, representing a completion rate of about 99.5 per cent, while 60 participants did not complete the programme.

According to him, the second cohort comprises 14,500 adolescent girls who have completed four months of training and are expected to graduate in September 2026.

He added that another 14,500 girls had been enrolled under the third cohort, with training expected to commence after the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session.

The Deputy Project Coordinator said the programme had recorded significant milestones, including the engagement of implementation partners in the development and validation of the life skills training manual used during the safe-space sessions.


He explained that the manual underwent extensive stakeholder review involving the Council of Ulama, traditional rulers, community representatives, school principals and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that its contents were consistent with the cultural and religious values of the people of Zamfara State.

Dr. Dalhatu further disclosed that AGILE had trained 60 Safe Space Master Trainers and 396 school-level guidance and counselling officers, describing the training as critical to establishing a strong foundation for effective implementation of the programme.

He said the review meeting would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to consolidate lessons learned, assess successes and challenges, and develop improved strategies for the next implementation cycle to ensure greater impact.

The Life Skills Sub-Component is designed to equip adolescent girls with essential life skills, knowledge, confidence and decision-making abilities, while providing safe spaces where they can receive guidance and support on issues affecting their development.

The programme also seeks to strengthen the capacity of school-based mentors and guidance and counselling officers to support participating girls and address challenges that could affect their education and well-being.

Participants at the meeting called for sustained support for the programme, stressing the importance of safe spaces, effective mentoring, guidance and counselling in helping adolescent girls build confidence and acquire skills needed for their future.

They also called for continued efforts to address challenges affecting effective implementation, including inadequate access to basic facilities and other factors that could hinder beneficiaries’ participation.

The stakeholders expressed optimism that lessons learned from the current implementation cycle would help strengthen the programme and contribute to achieving its target of reaching 87,209 adolescent girls across Zamfara State by 2028.

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