Research Findings and Case Studies: Evidence of Programme Effectiveness and Impact

This report presents research findings and case study evidence from the Year 1 implementation of the Kwara State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Life Skills Sub-Component, implemented by Olive Community Development Initiative (OCDI). Drawing on monitoring data from 100 schools across 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs), the study examined programme effectiveness through five thematic areas: access and participation, operational fidelity, mentor effectiveness, geographic equity, and sustainability. Findings reveal strong programme performance, with 93% of schools recording positive enrolment growth and an average increase of 133.9%, largely driven by peer referral mechanisms. The programme also achieved a notable mentor retention rate of 93.1%, highlighting the critical role of mentor consistency in sustaining girls’ engagement and programme quality. The research further demonstrates that while urban schools recorded higher enrolment figures, successful implementation was evident across rural, peri-urban, and special-needs school contexts, underscoring the adaptability and inclusiveness of the Safe Space model. Case studies from high-performing schools illustrate how institutional ownership, active mentor support, effective coordination, and community engagement contribute to programme success. The study also identifies data quality challenges as an area for improvement, recommending strengthened monitoring and evaluation systems in subsequent implementation cycles. Overall, the evidence indicates that the AGILE Life Skills Programme is operationally effective, contextually robust, and generating credible signals of impact at scale. While outcome-level evidence on life skills acquisition and behavioural change is yet to be established, sustained participation and programme growth suggest strong perceived value among adolescent girls. The findings provide a foundation for enhanced evidence generation and programme strengthening in Year 2, positioning the intervention to demonstrate measurable contributions to girls’ empowerment, protective behaviours, and educational resilience in Kwara State.