By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Government has reiterated its unwavering commitment to the growth and empowerment of adolescent girls across the 16 local government areas of the State, with the aim of providing them with required tools to navigate real life challenges and contribute meaningfully to the society.

This was disclosed on Thursday in Ilorin, the state capital, by the Project Coordinator of the Kwara State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, Mr. Adeshina Salami, at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with Principals of 100 secondary schools that are implementing life skills.

Mr. Salami specifically acknowledged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his gender parity policy and his interest in the progress of the female folks, noting that the life skills sub-component of the project is set to ensure an “all round development of our adolescent girls in the State”.

According to him, the life skills sub-component of the project is designed to promote holistic development of adolescent girls, and equip them with the knowledge and confidence needed to thrive in all areas of life.

In her presentation, the Life Skills Lead of the project, Aminat Yusuf, disclosed that 100 senior secondary schools are currently implementing life skills in their schools and that a manual has already been developed by the implementing partner supporting the sub-component.

She said: “100 schools are implementing safe space for this first phase. The SSS 1 girls are assigned mentors; 2 from their school and 1 from the community.

“In the second phase of the programme, an additional 100 schools will be included, bringing the total number of participating schools to 200. These schools will implement the safe space initiative in a designated location in their schools.

“They are taught from the manual which comprises different modules focused on essential competencies such as communication and assertiveness, negotiation, decision-making, career development and guidance, goal setting, digital literacy and safer Internet use, among others.”

She further added that “building on the successes recorded in the pioneer states, this initiative is expected to foster positive and well-rounded development in the lives of our girls.”

Some of the Principals who spoke to newsmen expressed their gratitude for the opportunity given to the girls to be able to express themselves freely in the safe space, while promising to continue supporting the implementation of the life skills programme in their various schools.