Ambassador's Girls' Scholarship Program (AGSP)

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AGSP recipient thanks the U.S. Government for its contribution. Sokoto, Nigeria.
AGSP recipient thanks the U.S. Government for its contribution. Sokoto, Nigeria.
Photos: Haladu Mohammed

In 2004, the African Education Initiative developed the Ambassador’s Girls Scholarship Program (AGSP) to enhance quality basic education in Africa through the provision of scholarships, textbooks, and mentoring programs.  AGSP’s objective in Nigeria is to improve girls’ and boys’ access to and retention in schools. 

Since 2004, over 10,000 scholarships have been awarded in 312 schools in 13 states in Nigeria.  Scholarships covered school fees, textbooks, exercise books, book bags, uniforms, socks, and sandals. In some cases, the scholarships have included other fees, such as transportation, lunch, and lessons. In addition, volunteer mentors in the community provide mentoring to students.  Many of them are teachers in the area schools and have included remedial courses within the mentoring sessions.

Scholars are chosen by community leaders, school principals, and facilitating non-government organizations (NGO).  They are selected based on the following criteria: 1) economic status, 2) physical ability, 3) family status (i.e. orphaned), and 4) HIV/AIDS status of the student or family member.

AGSP recipients in Sokoto, Nigeria.
AGSP recipients in Sokoto, Nigeria.

The Ambassador’s Girl’s Scholarship Program will end in 2011.