Hussaini Kafi in Kano
The Jigawa State Government has flagged off the distribution of 30,000 free school uniforms to female students and a comprehensive range of sports equipment to senior secondary schools across the state, as part of ongoing efforts to promote girl-child education and youth development.
The launch event, held at the Government Girls Science Secondary School in Jahun, was presided over by Governor Malam Umar Namadi, who reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to educational advancement, especially for girls.
“Today is yet another very important day for us as we launch the distribution of school uniforms to our students—especially our female students,” the governor said. “We are distributing about 30,000 pieces of school uniforms across the state. In addition to that, we are also distributing sporting materials to support extracurricular and physical activities in our schools.”
He emphasized that the initiative reflects the government’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 enrol in school but to pursue their education to the highest level possible,” he added.
Governor Namadi described education as a powerful tool for societal transformation, stressing that investing in girls’ education is crucial to sustainable development. “When you educate a woman, you educate a nation,” he said.
He also highlighted efforts to identify and sponsor talented female students for medical-related courses, alongside large-scale investments in technical and vocational education, including the construction of workshops and provision of equipment for fields like welding, carpentry, and building.
Billions of naira, he noted, have been invested in renovating school infrastructure, training teachers, and procuring teaching materials. He added that the education sector received 32% of the state’s budget in the previous year, with 26.7% allocated in the current year—the highest among all sectors.
The governor also cited the ₦67 billion Jigawa Unite Project, a five-year partnership with a UK-based institution aimed at integrating ICT in classrooms, training teachers, and creating a digital-friendly learning environment. Additionally, the Jigawa Compete digital learning programme is building teachers’ capacity to deliver 21st-century instruction, while expanded TVET programmes aim to meet industrial workforce needs.
“We will continue to invest in education because we believe it is the bedrock of any meaningful development,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Isah Yusuf Chamo, said the government has procured and is distributing a wide array of sporting equipment to support physical education and youth development across secondary schools.
Items distributed include 304 footballs, 70 basketballs, 228 volleyballs, 70 handballs, 30 badminton sets, 20 table tennis kits, 593 track suits, 738 jerseys, 96 athletic kits, and 774 whistles.
Professor Chamo commended the government’s educational strides, noting the sponsorship of 137 female students to the Federal College of Education (Technical), Bichi, and over 18,000 students supported to sit for the last JAMB examination.
He also highlighted the Girls for Health (G4H) Programme, which has received over ₦100 million for the training of female students in core science subjects, the provision of learning materials, and mentoring support.
In addition, he revealed that 70% of beneficiaries under the Jigawa State foreign scholarship programme are female students, many of whom are studying MBBS and other medical courses in Cyprus and India.
