The Gombe State Government has started the second batch of payments under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, AGILE, Conditional Cash Transfer program.
The state has begun distributing ATM cards to adolescent girls in public schools who were selected for the second cohort of the program.
The exercise was launched at Government Junior Secondary School, Malamsidi Central, in Kwami Local Government Area.
Gombe Commissioner for Education, Associate Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari, said the cash transfer is designed to help parents meet school expenses and keep girls in school until they complete secondary education.
The state AGILE Project Coordinator, Dr. Amina Haruna Abdul, also said the program has improved enrollment and retention among participating students.
How Much Does Gombe AGILE Pay?
Gombe introduced its AGILE cash support program for economically disadvantaged girls in 2025.
Under the program, eligible girls transitioning to JSS1 or SS1 receive ₦60,000 to support expenses such as registration, uniforms and school materials.
Beneficiaries also receive ₦10,000 each term to support continued schooling.
The program initially targeted 12,100 girls across Gombe State’s 11 local government areas.
Beneficiaries were selected through a community poverty ranking system designed to identify girls from households that need financial support.
Who Qualifies for the Gombe AGILE Cash Transfer?
The Gombe program targets economically disadvantaged girls at key transition stages in public schools.
The first rollout focused on girls moving from:
- Primary 6 to JSS1
- JSS3 to SS1
Selection is carried out through the AGILE program and participating schools.
Parents do not register for the payment through a public nationwide website.
Beneficiaries are identified through the state program and school system.
Second Batch ATM Card Distribution Has Started
The latest Gombe update confirms that ATM card distribution has started for the second cohort.
The cards are used to receive payments under the Conditional Cash Transfer program.
Parents whose daughters are already approved beneficiaries should follow the instructions provided by the school and Gombe AGILE team concerning collection and use of the cards.
The second batch is part of the state’s continued implementation of the program.
AGILE Payments Are Different Across States
The AGILE cash transfer amount is not the same nationwide.
For example, the Kogi State Government confirmed a ₦40,000 cash grant for each eligible girl under its AGILE Conditional Cash Transfer program.
Kogi’s program covers 13,359 adolescent girls in transition classes.
This is different from the Gombe payment structure.
Parents should therefore not assume that every AGILE beneficiary across Nigeria receives ₦60,000.
How Many Girls Are Receiving AGILE Cash Transfers?
The Federal Ministry of Education’s AGILE national dashboard currently records 519,164 Conditional Cash Transfer beneficiaries across the program’s cohorts.
The recorded beneficiaries are distributed across Primary 6, JSS1, JSS2, JSS3, SS1, SS2 and SS3.
AGILE currently operates across several participating states, including Gombe, Kogi, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Bauchi, Borno, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe and others.
What Is the AGILE Project?
AGILE stands for Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment.
It is a Federal Ministry of Education program supported by the World Bank.
The project was created to improve access to secondary education for girls and reduce the number of girls who leave school before completing their education.
Its interventions include:
- Conditional cash transfers
- School construction and renovation
- Digital skills training
- Life skills training
- Improved school facilities
- Support for girls from poor households
The World Bank says the cash transfer component was created to reduce the financial pressure that prevents girls from remaining in school.
How Parents Receive the Payment
AGILE cash transfers are paid through accounts linked to beneficiaries or their caregivers.
In Gombe, ATM cards are being distributed to approved beneficiaries.
The card gives the beneficiary or caregiver access to the approved payment.
Parents should not give the ATM card, PIN or account information to anyone who claims they can help release the money.
How to Know if Your Daughter Is a Beneficiary
Parents should check directly with the school attended by the student.
The school already has the list of girls selected under the state AGILE program.
If the student’s name is included, the school or state AGILE team will provide instructions concerning ATM card collection, verification and payment.
There is no confirmed national public portal where parents can enter a name and register for the cash transfer.
Is AGILE Registration Open to the Public?
No general nationwide registration for the AGILE cash transfer is currently open.
Beneficiaries are selected through participating states and schools.
Parents should ignore websites or individuals asking them to pay money to register a daughter for the AGILE cash transfer.
States Can Use Different Payment Structures
AGILE is implemented through state governments, so the payment structure differs by state.
The confirmed examples include:
Gombe State: ₦60,000 transition support, with ₦10,000 term payments under the state’s program.
Kogi State: ₦40,000 per eligible girl under its Conditional Cash Transfer program.
Parents should therefore follow the official payment structure announced for their own state rather than figures circulating on social media.
What Parents in Gombe Should Do
Parents whose daughters were selected for the second cohort should follow the ATM card distribution instructions issued through their schools.
They should also make sure that:
- The beneficiary’s details are correct
- The ATM card is collected through the approved process
- The card and PIN are kept secure
- The money is used for the girl’s education
The latest confirmed Gombe update is that the second batch ATM card distribution has started.
