Nigeria

AGSP/Nigeria At a Glance:

• Program Start Date: September 2005
• Academic Focus: Primary and Junior Secondary School
• Academic Year Start: September
• Number of Local partners: 8
• Number of Scholarships to Date: 6,730
• Number of Schools: 366
• Number of Mentors: 200
• Geographic Focus: Target areas of this assistance are Lagos, Kano, Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Enugu, Imo, Edo, Cross River, Ogun, Borno, Gombe, Nasarawa, Niger and Sokoto states.

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Basic Information

• School year calendar: September – June
• Target areas of this assistance are Lagos, Kano, Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Enugu, Imo, Edo, Cross River, Ogun, Borno, Gombe, Nasarawa and Sokoto states.
• To date, visits have been conducted to all of the two LGAs in the FCT and 12 states by AGSP Nigeria team. Regional Coordinator Mamadou Lamine Sow and National Consultant Toyin Zakariya. AGSP director, Kadiatou Coulibaly also visited FCT, Lagos, and Kano states in December 2006. In December 2006, at the expiration of his contract with WEI, Lamine Sow, the Regional Coordinator was replaced with Ms. Kaye A. Efem as the Nigeria AGSP supervisor.
• Currently AGSP is supporting 3331 scholars (1728 girls and 1603 boys) in 13 states of Nigeria through 8 local NGOs: Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) in FCT, Nasarawa, Niger and Ogun states; Guardian and Counseling Development Association(GCDA) in Gombe and Bornu states; Youth Resource Development Education and Leadership Centre for Africa (YORDEL) in Enugu and Imo states; International Reproductive Rights Research Action Group (IRRAG) in Edo state; Basic Education Association (BEA) in Kano state; Rural Women and Youth Development (RWYD) in Sokoto state; Youth Care in Cross River state; and Forum for African Women Educationalists Nigeria (FAWE/N) in Lagos state.
• Agreement dates: 15th September, 2007 – 14th September, 2008

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Program Overview

In Year 1 AGSP Nigeria provided support to 615 former EDDI scholars through June, 2005 in twelve states: Lagos, Kano, Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Enugu, Imo, Edo, Cross River, Ogun, Borno, Gombe and Sokoto states. In year 2, AGSP/Nigeria was incorporated into the regional AEI–AGSP with a mandate to provide scholarships to 1,200 girls in thirteen states; WEI also agreed to continue to support the 50 EDDI–AGSP girls in Kano state. The program was supervised by Regional Coordinator, Mamadou Lamine Sow, in collaboration with a local consultant, Toyin Zakariya. AGSP Nigeria assisted 1651 school girls (1089 primary school girls and 562 Junior Secondary school girls – including 50 EDDI scholars).

In Year 3 school year, AGSP Nigeria supported 1748 girls in 13 states through 8 local NGOs: Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) in FCT, Nasarawa, Niger and Ogun states; Guidance and Counseling Development Association(GCDA) in Gombe and Bornu states; Youth Resource Development Education and Leadership Centre for Africa (YORDEL) in Enugu and Imo states; International Reproductive Rights Research Action Group (IRRAG) in Edo state; Basic Education Association (BEA) in Kano state; Rural Women and Youth Development (RWYD) in Sokoto state; Youth Care in Cross River state; and Forum for African Women Educationalists Nigeria (FAWE/N) in Lagos state. In December 2006, at the expiration of his contract with WEI, Lamine Sow, the Regional Coordinator was replaced with Ms. Kaye A. Efem as the Nigeria AGSP supervisor.

Year 4 of AGSP saw the addition of boys to the program. In Nigeria, a total of 3331 scholarships were distributed, 1728 to girls and 1603 to boys.

AGSP scholars are selected through a transparent process by a selection committee put together by stakeholders in each LGA. Selection committees are composed of LGEA officials, NGO personnel, PTA, health/social workers, religious and traditional leaders. Scholarship items vary from state to state and according to the needs of beneficiaries. But specifically they include: textbooks, uniforms, sandals, school supplies, school bags, mid day meal etc. All the NGOs have completed the selection of mentors. Some of the mentoring activities include public talks on HIV/AIDS awareness, the importance of girls' education and the role of community members in promoting it. NGOs use both human and material resources within their communities.

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Exemplary Practices

FOMWAN Practice: NGO Facilitated Bulk Manufacture of School Materials

Exercise books (blank notebooks) were manufactured exclusively for FOMWAN in great bulk, thus, eliminating further overhead and ensuring the highest quality.

• FOMWAN used their large organizational network to produce exercise books for all scholars that are of higher quality than those available in the market yet cost less per unit. The exercise books are correctly labeled with USAID branding and a FOMWAN logo.

FOMWAN Practice: Individualizing Scholarship Packages to Optimize Budget

FOMWAN purchased items to meet the needs of the individual scholars rather than purchasing items to reach the preset amount ($100) for each scholarship. In doing so, FOMWAN had been able to exceed their targeted number of scholarships by 52%.

• FOMWAN utilized its extensive network of highly regarded volunteer women leaders by mobilizing local FOMWAN chapter presidents to take responsibility for support for AGSP scholars in their villages. FOMWAN chapter presidents collaborated with parents, teachers, and other community leaders, in individualizing scholarship packages with a more cost effective result, and thereby doubling the number of girls that could be supported by AGSP funds.

BEA Practice: Community Support for Additional Scholarships

Basic Education Association (BEA) of Kano, Nigeria has received USD$500 to support additional scholarships.

• BEA sent out letters and spoke to friends, relatives and other business associates inviting them to support additional scholarships. From this effort two individuals responded. One donated a significant amount of money to support five scholars in a rural area and the other contributed new text and exercise books worth approximately USD$190. Other donors have expressed desire so BEA is now in the process of engaging their interest.

BEA Practice: Monthly Stakeholders Meetings

BEA of Kano, Nigeria holds monthly meetings with stakeholders and member of the public to discuss the status of AGSP and to serve as an outside advisory board when needed.

• These meetings began at the suggestion of a selection committee participant as a way to promote investment in and sustainability of AGSP through discussion of important issues such as continued funding opportunities, scholar progress, and mentoring activities.
• LEA (Ministry of Education) officials, PTA members, head teachers, the Imams, and other prominent community members are invited to participate. Attendees rotate chairing and facilitating the meetings, and agendas are jointly constructed.

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