The Kwara State Government has commenced a two-day training for Technical Service Providers engaged under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment project to oversee the rehabilitation of 898 public junior and senior secondary schools across the state.

Speaking at the flag-off of the training held in Ilorin on Friday, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, said the initiative underscored the commitment of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to improving education and empowering vulnerable groups, particularly adolescent girls.

Olohungbebe, who also chairs the State Project Steering Committee for Kwara AGILE, said the project would strengthen both academic and economic opportunities for girls in the state.

"The governor has demonstrated deep passion and commitment to giving a lifeline to the economic and educational development of the citizenry, with particular emphasis on vulnerable groups in the society.

"With this project, the administration intends to construct classroom blocks with other facilities in 26 public schools, whilst renovating all 898 junior and senior secondary schools in the state," he said.

According to him, the AGILE project would also provide conditional cash transfers, digital literacy programmes, life skills training, and second-chance education opportunities for girls.

He urged the technical professionals involved in the project to remain committed to delivering quality work.

"You are experienced professionals, and we expect you to remain steadfast, committed, and God-fearing so that your contributions can be remembered when the legacy of this administration is discussed," he added.

The Project Coordinator of Kwara AGILE, Mr Adeshina Salami, stressed the importance of collaboration between the Technical Service Providers and School-Based Management Committees to ensure effective project implementation.

Salami explained that the School Improvement Grants under the project were categorised into small, medium, and large grants, depending on the needs of each school.

He added that all beneficiary schools would receive water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities to improve learning environments.

"These professionals are not contractors; they are to support the School-Based Management Committees to ensure quality delivery and compliance with environmental and social standards.

"The Technical Service Providers will work closely with school authorities, students, and host communities to ensure effective communication, safety management, and quality assurance," he said.

The Environmental Safeguard Officer from the National Project Coordinating Unit in Abuja, Mrs Nkechi Ikemefuna, said the training was necessary to help participants identify and mitigate environmental and social risks that could arise during the rehabilitation process.

Similarly, the Environmental Safeguard Officer for Kwara AGILE, Mr Ayokanmi Owolabi, said the Technical Service Providers include professionals such as civil engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, town planners, estate surveyors, and land surveyors who will ensure that renovation works meet required standards.

He noted that the training would help participants properly understand and implement the environmental and social management plan, thereby preventing risks such as noise pollution, waste mismanagement, occupational hazards, community conflicts, and gender-based violence.

The AGILE project is a five-year initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education, supported by the World Bank, designed to improve access to secondary education and learning opportunities for girls in public schools across Nigeria.