Gov. Namadi distributes 30,000 free school uniforms to female students in Jigawa

By Ali Rabi'u Ali Jigawa

Governir Malam Umar Namadi has once again reiterated his administration’s  commitment to educational development, with a special focus on empowering the girl-child. 

He made this statement during the ceremony for the  flag off of distribution of 30,000 free school uniforms to female students and a wide range of sporting equipment to senior secondary schools across the state held at the Government Girls Science Secondary School Jahun. 

In his remarks, Governor Namadi emphasized the administration's policy of promoting girl-child education as a cornerstone of societal progress. 

“Today is yet another very important day for us as we launch the distribution of school uniforms to our students—especially our female students. We are distributing about 30,000 pieces of school uniforms to students across the state.

" In addition to that, we are also distributing sporting materials to support extracurricular and physical activities in our schools,” the Governor said.

He further explained that this initiative aligns with the administration’s long-standing policy of providing free education for girls from primary to university level.

 “Our objective is to ensure that our girls are encouraged not only to enroll in school but to pursue their education to the highest level possible. It is a well-established fact that educating a girl-child is one of the most powerful tools for societal development. When you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”

Governor Namadi highlighted the central role of women in family and societal development, saying that they serveasapillartoallfamilies. , 

“Women are the backbone of families. They are the ones who stay with the children at home. They guide and support their children’s learning, help them prepare for school, and nurture them through all stages of growth and development. Therefore, investing in their education is a decision of immeasurable value.”

Recognizing the cultural and societal dynamics of Jigawa communities, the Governor reaffirmed the government's targeted medical education programmes designed to identify and sponsor talented female students to pursue medical-related courses.

 “These are deliberate efforts aimed at making girl-child education a cornerstone of our developmental agenda,” he said.

Governor Namadi also referenced the substantial investments made in technical and vocational education through the construction of vocational workshops and the provision of core training equipment in fields such as building, welding, carpentry, and other essential skills.

 He stressed that billions of naira have been invested in the renovation of school structures, teacher training, and the procurement of teaching materials.

Education remains a critical pillar of the administration’s 12-point development agenda, the Governor said,  reminding the audience that 32% of last year’s budget was allocated to education, with this year’s allocation standing at 26.7%—the highest share across all sectors.

 “Our goal is simple: to ensure that every indigene of Jigawa State—male or female—has access to quality education."

One of the flagship programmes mentioned was the ₦67 billion Jigawa Unite Project, a five-year initiative launched through an MoU with a UK-based institution, which will integrate ICT into teaching, provide continuous teacher training, and create a more conducive learning environment. 

The Governor also cited the launch of “Jigawa Compete,” a digital learning program at the higher education level that is equipping teachers with ICT skills to deliver 21st-century instruction. These efforts are complemented by the introduction of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to meet the manpower needs of industries in Jigawa and beyond.

Governor Namadi reiterated his administration’s commitment to teacher development, improved infrastructure, and access to modern educational tools.

 “We will continue to invest in education because we believe it is the bedrock of any meaningful development. We will invest in: teacher training, modern equipment, teaching and learning materials, and infrastructure renovation."

The Honourable Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Isah Yusuf Chamo, who also spoke at the event, outlined the scope and significance of the materials being distributed.

 “We are here today to flag off the distribution of vital facilities that will greatly enhance the learning environment in our senior secondary schools across Jigawa State. 

"As part of this initiative, the government has procured a wide range of sports equipment for distribution. These include 304 footballs, 70 basketballs, 228 volleyballs, 70 handballs, 30 badminton sets, 20 table tennis kits, 593 track suites, 738 jerseys, 96 athletic kits, 774 whistles for sports training.

"These items will be distributed to senior secondary schools to support physical education and promote sport development among students.”

Professor Chamo commended Governor Namadi’s record investments in the education sector, citing the sponsorship of 137 female students to pursue specialized courses at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Bichi. 

He also noted that over 18,000 students were sponsored to write the last JAMB examination, lauding the Governor's approval and funding of the Girls for Health (G4H) Programme, which has seen over ₦100 million allocated to train female students in core science subjects, provide learning materials, and pay allowances to mentoring teachers.

He further emphasized the administration’s consistent support for scholarships from primary to university levels. 

“Notably, in the Jigawa State foreign scholarship program, 70% of the beneficiaries are female students, many of whom are now studying MBBS and other medical-related courses in Cyprus and India."