Conditional cash transfers to 49,370 mothers

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful. May the peace and blessings of Allah SWT be upon his noble Prophet Muhammad SAW and his family in general.

I give thanks to Allah SWT for sparing our lives to witness yet another important milestone towards ensuring Katsina State continue to receive the much-needed attention to compete effectively with other states in service delivery and economic growth. Today on behalf of the good people of Katsina State we are delivering another important mandate of ensuring that all schoolaged children attend school and are learning. The conditional cash transfer is one of the many government's strategies to help poor households to send their children to school and stay until completion.

It is worth noting that my government will continue to provide the enabling environment for all children to have access to safe school environments, child-friendly atmosphere, and qualified teachers for improved learning outcomes. We promised to do this through various interventions, one of which is helping the poor communities through the Cash Transfer Programme. I am made to understand that the selection of the beneficiaries was based on poverty mapping of poor and vulnerable families with data support from the National Social Register. 1 am happy the project can identify beneficiaries based on level of poverty and basic human needs, which is logical to ensure households are empowered to send their children to school. The choice of mothers and caregivers is also a good idea since they are the ones shouldered with the responsibility of managing the family by default, they are also good managers of money for all of us.

Let me use this opportunity to thank all stakeholders especially traditional and religious institutions, youths' organizations, women groups, and all those concerned with development of the State, your contribution in this regard is highly appreciated. We will continue to involve all actors in the business of developing the State. Our door is always open for any contribution from individual and groups, the Katsina State we want to leave will only be possible if we join hands

together and work with passion and commitment. I want also thank the Honourable Commissioner Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajia Hadiza Yar'adua for the commitment and hard work right from the day she assumed office as the Commissioner. I can see visibly the passion she has is translating into result. Recently I was aware of a critical stakeholder training she convened in Kano with support from the AGILE project, where commitment towards rebuilding our education sector was reignited. I wish you the very best in ensuring the Katsina State children receive the best quality education within your tenure and beyond. I want to also call on beneficiaries of this cash transfer to ensure their children are always in school. Education is the biggest asset to be given to any child, it will last till end of life and will continue to benefit even those yet unborn.

Thank you AGILE project for all you do on our behalf to ensure secondary education is given a facelift, you have our support now and always.

God bless the APC Administration, God Bless Katsina State and Nigeria, ameen. Thank you