By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa State Government has scaled up efforts to reposition basic education with the distribution of 247,597 teaching and learning materials under its flagship JigawaUNITE education reform programme.
The distribution exercise was unveiled at a ceremony held at Ansaruddeen Primary School, Kiyawa Local Government Area, where the Executive Chairman of the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Haruna Musa, said the initiative reflects the education vision of Governor Malam Umar Namadi’s 12-point development agenda.
Professor Musa explained that JigawaUNITE places education at the heart of sustainable development and human capital growth, describing the programme as a comprehensive reform initiative designed to improve learning outcomes through better teaching methods, adequate learning materials, 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.
He disclosed 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-driven instructional skills aligned with global best practices.
Providing details of the distribution, Professor Musa said 194,380 academic materials were supplied during the first term, while an additional 53,217 items were delivered in the second term of the current academic session, bringing the total to 247,597 materials.
The items include over 57,000 curriculum-aligned textbooks for pupils and teachers, alongside other instructional resources designed to complement digital learning in classrooms.
“These materials represent more than books; they symbolise opportunity, knowledge, and a pathway for our children to realise their full potential,” Musa said, stressing that the programme is built on the principle that education is a right, not a privilege.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the JigawaUNITE Programme, Mr. Habib Saleh, said the initiative was conceived by Governor Namadi to reposition Jigawa’s education system in line with global best practices through digital innovation.
He noted that baseline assessments conducted at the start of the programme revealed weak learning outcomes, but recent evaluations show marked improvement.
“Feedback from examinations, continuous assessments, and testimonies from parents, teachers, and school leaders clearly indicate progress within a short period,” Saleh said, adding that engagements with school-based management committees and mothers’ associations have further confirmed the programme’s positive impact.
However, he identified teacher commitment in some rural areas as a challenge, citing issues such as late resumption and early school closure. He assured that SUBEB and relevant monitoring agencies are addressing the situation.
Looking ahead, the state government plans to expand JigawaUNITE to 350 additional schools, bringing the total number of participating schools to 600 statewide. Officials said the expansion would be supported by sustained investment in teacher training, community participation, and data-driven assessments.
With continued commitment, the government expressed confidence that 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.