By Atoyebi Nike
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has flagged off a conditional cash transfer programme targeting 8,225 secondary school girls across all 14 local government areas, aimed at boosting school retention and educational outcomes for vulnerable households.
Speaking during the official rollout held Wednesday in Gusau, Governor Lawal said the initiative supports girls from low-income families with ₦60,000 per academic session, disbursed in three terms. A total of ₦322 million has been earmarked for the first phase of the programme.
The initiative, executed in collaboration with the ACReSAL and AGILE projects, is part of Lawal’s broader push for social inclusion and education reform.
“When you educate a girl, you educate a village,” Lawal said, stressing the long-term impact of empowering girls through education.
In addition, the governor launched the Community Revolving Fund under the ACReSAL project, disbursing financial support to 500 beneficiaries in Gusau, Bungudu, and Kaura Namoda. The fund aims to promote environmental protection, climate resilience, and local enterprise development.
Lawal urged beneficiaries to use the funds transparently and responsibly to ensure the initiative’s sustainability and broader impact across communities.
He praised the Ministries of Environment and Education, along with technical partners, for their contributions and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to grassroots empowerment and accountability.