Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has declared a state of emergency on basic education, following what he described as a thorough and comprehensive review of the sector’s persistent challenges across the state.
The announcement was made on Wednesday at the Government House, Dutse, while the governor was responding after receiving the Most Outstanding Education-Friendly Governor of the Decade award, presented by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
Governor Namadi stated that education lies at the heart of his administration’s development agenda, and the decision to declare a state of emergency followed extensive deliberations at the State Executive Council after analysing the current conditions of the basic education sector.
“Education is the bedrock of any society. For us, investment in education is not only important but also necessary. We have made a deliberate attempt to transform education into a clearly defined policy priority,” he said.
“So we made a conscious decision to focus on strengthening the education sector, and we started across all segments, from basic to tertiary. At the basic level, our comprehensive analysis led to the conclusion that there was a need to declare a state of emergency. While at the tertiary level, we took the difficult but necessary step of overhauling leadership in all state-owned higher institutions,” he added.
As part of the education reform drive, the administration recently launched JIGAWA COMPETE (J-COMPETE) a major digital education initiative under the state’s 12-point agenda. The first phase includes distributing 300 digital tablets, establishing an Education Management Information System (EMIS), and improving internet connectivity in public schools. The programme aims to digitise learning and provide inclusive access to quality education through technology.
J-COMPETE, which stands for Creating Opportunity for Mastery, Proficiency, Excellence, and Technological Empowerment, seeks to bridge the digital divide and improve teacher capacity through digital literacy training.
In addition to this, the government distributed over 300 Toyota Corolla vehicles (2012 model) to school principals and education directors to enhance administrative efficiency across the state’s public schools.
Another major initiative flagged off by the Namadi-led administration is the Jigawa State Advocacy Team for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education, aimed at reintegrating vulnerable children into formal learning systems.
Governor Namadi thanked ASUP for the honour and attributed the recognition to the collective efforts of his cabinet, civil servants, and the people of Jigawa State. He encouraged continued collaboration and welcomed constructive feedback from stakeholders.
Earlier, ASUP Chairman, Comrade Nuruddeen Abdullahi Yusuf, commended the governor’s vision and commitment to education reform. He praised the administration for appointing qualified academics to lead state institutions and implementing policies that are positively transforming the educational landscape in Jigawa.
The declaration of emergency marks a renewed phase in Jigawa’s education sector reform, with strong emphasis on digital transformation, inclusive access, and leadership accountability.
