Nigeria

Basic Information

• Assisting: 1,772 girls in 13 states of Nigeria
• Target areas of assistance: Lagos, Kano, Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Enugu, Imo, Edo, Cross River, Ogun, Borno, Gombe, Nasarawa and Sokoto states.
• Partners: 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.
• School year calendar: September - June

Program Overview

Selection Process

AGSP scholars are selected through a transparent process by a selection committee put together by stakeholders in each zone of intervention. Selection committees are composed of local officials, NGO personnel, PTA, health/social workers religious leaders and traditional leaders. The AGSP scholars are vetted through a process that includes nomination by school officials, the completion of application forms, an interview with girls and their parents, followed by a review and decision making process involving all stakeholders in the locality.

Scholarships items vary from state to state and according to the needs of beneficiaries. They generally include: textbooks, school uniforms, school sandals, writing materials, school bags, and midday meal.

Mentors

Mentoring activities began with the training of NGOs in February 2006. Most NGOs have completed the selection of mentors, though some are still in the process of doing it. Some of the activities include public talks on HIV and AIDS awareness, the importance of educating the girl-child and the role of community members in promoting girls' education. NGOs made use of both human and material resources within their communities. For example in Sokoto state, an Islamic cleric participated in the public talks and quoted the relevant Qur'anic verses and Hadith, to support the need to educate female children who are the women of the future. Women ministers, commissioners and executives are among the selected mentors. The mentors were selected in collaboration with the stakeholders. These mentors are to serve as role models to the girls. They are also expected to provide guidance and counseling services to the girls. Some mentors have already volunteered to give extra moral classes to the girls after the school hours.

Program Update

The First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Laura Bush, visited one of the AGSP schools in the FCT (Model Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja). During the visit, she observed a Biology class and had an interactive session with 18 AGSP beneficiaries from Abuja.

In Year 1, the AGSP in Nigeria provided support for 615 former EDDI scholars through June, 2005 in twelve states of Lagos, Kano, Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Enugu, Imo, Edo, Cross River, Ogun, Borno, Gombe and Sokoto states.

The Year 2 AEI-AGSP started in Nigeria in September 2005 with a mandate to provide scholarships to 1,200 to girls thirteen states of Lagos, Kano, Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Enugu, Imo, Edo, Cross River, Ogun, Borno, Gombe, Nasarawa and Sokoto. WEI also agreed to continue to support the 50 EDDI-AGSP girls in Kano state.

Year 3 activities are well underway. All NGOs completed selection of mentors. Some of the mentors' 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.