By Muhammad Amaan
The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment project (AGILE), said it would enrol out-of-school disabled adolescent girls under the project in Zamfara State.
AGILE is a World Bank Intervention project targeting enrolment of thousands of out-of-school adolescent girls in the state
Coordinator of the project in Zamfara state, Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdu-Gusau, disclosed this in Gusau, the state capital, while speaking at the consultation meeting on disability inclusion in the project.
She reiterated the commitment of the project to ensure that adolescent girls, particularly those with disabilities have equitable educational opportunities to learn and succeed like others in the state.
“We are taking deliberate steps to make this vision a reality. We have carefully integrated inclusive building policies into our interventions on school infrastructure, ensuring that 42 schools are targeted for new construction.
“In addition to that, all the 441 schools and non-formal learning centres for rehabilitation are designed to meet the needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs),” she said.
The coordinator said that the project will provide accessible ramps and restrooms for students with disabilities to enable them move around school facilities independently and comfortably.
“We are dedicated to addressing the needs of out-of-school adolescent girls, particularly those with disabilities.
“We also undertake a micro-assessment to determine the most market-relevant vocational skills for women and girls across the 14 LGAs of the state.
“Under this arrangement, the project earmarked a significant percentage specifically for PWDs,” she explained.
According to her, the gesture also extended to provision of opportunities for digital literacy and critical life skills as well as financial incentives to poor and vulnerable households
“As part of the project’s system-strengthening efforts, we are also planning to train teachers on inclusive pedagogies and practices.
“Our Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), established in schools and communities, ensures that concerns from PWDs are addressed swiftly and respectfully.
“Any PWD member who feels aggrieved at any stage of the interventions can seek redress at the nearest GRM point, where their grievances will be resolved effectively,” she assured.
Abdu-Gusau urged the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWDs), to partner with AGILE in the vital work.
“The doors of the project team are wide open for further discussions to deepen our collaboration.
“We have already secured a copy of the Zamfara State Disability Bill to ensure compliance with legal standards.
“I am therefore appealing for support and contribution from MDAs, NGOs, CSOs, and other stakeholders for the success of the project in Zamfara,” she added.
