Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara has flagged off the disbursement of N11.7 billion for small and medium school improvement grants, SIGS.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on media and publicity, Suleiman Idris, said the program was part of the Adolescent Girls’ Initiatives for Learning and Empowerment, AGILE, project in the state.
According to him, no fewer than 322 schools were selected for the exercise at the cost of N11,736,000,000.00.
The statement further noted that the project aims to improve access, retention, and completion rates in schools across the state.
He added that the disbursement was the first phase of the small and medium school improvement grants, SIGS, under the AGILE Project.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our commitment to fulfilling our campaign promises of revitalising the education sector in Zamfara State as we flag off the disbursement of School Improvement Grants, SIGs, under the AGILE Project.
“We declared a state of emergency on education, and this event signifies a continuation of our strategic decision to renovate and rehabilitate school infrastructure,” he said.
According to him, the program is a significant step in the process, as it distributes award letters to the contractors designated as the Technical Service Providers for the school renovation and rehabilitation exercises.
“This is a necessary and crucial step in creating a safe and conducive learning environment for our children.
“As technical service providers, your role is critical in ensuring that every naira spent translates into tangible improvements in our schools,” the statement noted.
Mr Idris said the governor urged the service providers to adhere strictly to the School Improvement Plans, SIPs, and the project implementation guidelines.
“In our determination to safeguard this initiative and ensure that the work meets the highest standards, we have established a robust mechanism to monitor the implementation process closely and ensure strict compliance with all guidelines and specifications.
“Let me emphasise here the need to recognise that we highly value cost-effectiveness and value for money in all engagements related to this development.
“I also call upon the project monitoring team, the school-based management committees, SBMCs, and the general public to remain vigilant and fully engaged in this process.
“This initiative is not just about building and renovating schools; it is about investing in the future of Zamfara State,” the governor was quoted as saying.
