Jigawa govt distributes 247,597 learning materials to boost basic education

The Jigawa State Government has stepped up efforts to reposition basic education with the distribution of 247,597 teaching and learning materials under its flagship JigawaUNITE education reform programme.

The Executive Chairman of the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Haruna Musa, disclosed this at the JigawaUNITE book distribution ceremony held at Ansaruddeen Primary School, Kiyawa Local Government Area.

Prof. Musa said the initiative is in line with the education pillar of Governor Malam Umar Namadi’s 12-point development agenda, which places education at the heart of sustainable development and human capital growth in the state.

He described JigawaUNITE as a comprehensive and innovative programme designed to improve learning outcomes through improved teaching methods, provision of adequate learning resources and the integration of technology into classroom instruction.

According to him, the programme is being implemented by SUBEB under the supervision of the Ministry of Basic Education, with technical support from NewGlobe, an international education reform organisation.

The SUBEB chairman revealed that JigawaUNITE is currently operational in 250 primary schools across 20 local government areas, benefiting 87,543 pupils and supported by 1,480 trained teachers.

“As part of the first phase, teachers were equipped with modern, technology-based instructional skills to align classroom delivery with global best practices,” he said.

Giving a breakdown of the materials distributed, Prof. Musa said 247,597 academic items had been delivered so far, with 194,380 distributed during the first term and 53,217 in the second term of the current academic session.

He explained that the materials include over 57,000 assorted curriculum textbooks for pupils and teachers, as well as other instructional resources designed to complement digital learning in classrooms.

“These materials are more than books; they symbolise opportunity, knowledge and a pathway for our children to realise their full potential,” he added, stressing that the programme is anchored on the principle that education is a right, not a privilege.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the JigawaUNITE Programme, Mr Habib Saleh, said the initiative was conceived by Governor Namadi to reposition the state’s education system in line with global best practices through digital innovation.

He noted that baseline assessments conducted at the inception of the programme revealed weak learning outcomes, but recent evaluations have shown significant improvement.

“Feedback from examinations, continuous assessments and testimonies from parents, teachers and school leaders indicate clear progress within a short period,” adding that engagements with school-based management committees and mothers’ associations have further confirmed the programme’s positive impact.

Mr Saleh, however, identified teacher commitment in some rural areas as a major challenge, citing late resumption and early closure of schools, but assured that SUBEB and relevant monitoring bodies are addressing the issue.

Looking ahead, the state government plans to expand JigawaUNITE to an additional 350 schools, raising the total number of participating schools to 600 across the state.

Officials said the expansion would be supported by sustained investment in teacher training, community engagement and data-driven assessments to continually refine implementation strategies.

The government expressed confidence that, with sustained commitment, JigawaUNITE would produce a new generation of pupils with improved learning outcomes and strong digital skills, positioning Jigawa State as a model for basic education reform in Nigeria.