Governor Umar Namadi FCA, has raised the bar very high when it comes to commitment to the educational sector in Jigawa state. Governments in the past has given their contribution to the development of the education sector in the state to the best of their abilities. But I want state categorically that looking at the quantum of investment and the unwavering commitment demonstrated Gov.Namadi to the transforming of education in the state, I can boldly say no Governor since the creation of the state that has done so much for education as Gov.Namadi.
He is arguably the only Governor in Nigeria today who has consistently allocated budget to the education sector way above the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s recommended 15-20 percent of total public expenditure on the sector.
Let’s set the record straight. In the 2024, the education sector got N94, 640,494,000 billion representing 32 percent of the total budget. In 2025 budget circle, the education sector got N177.29 billion representing 26.7 percent of the budget and in 2026, the educational sector got N310 billion representing 26 percent of the budget. This a great achievement for a state that requires huge and consistent invests in the sector.
This article will focus on the huge investment in higher education especially university sector where I work and which I am more familiar with. Be that as it may, the impact of the government is felt across all the sub-sectors like primary and secondary school subsectors.
Records have shown that in the last two and half year, Gov. Namadi has massively invested billions in the establishment of Senior Secondary School Board, construction and renovation of school structure, establishment of new agencies in the Ministry of Education, promotion of vocational training, Teacher recruitment and man power development among many others.
The game changer in the university education sector is the N11 billion investments in the purchase of Khadija Universities, Majia. This singular gesture has increased the number of state owned universities to two. The icing on the cake is the decision by His Excellency to convert the Institution to a university of health Sciences where courses like Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Environmental Health and public Health will be offered among many others.
The multiplier effects of this Health focused university to Jigawa state and its environs cannot be overemphasized. Jigawa state is one of the states in Nigeria investing its scarce foreign exchange in the training of medical students abroad. With this acquisition alone, half of that amount can be used to train medical doctors locally. The university can also serve as a postgraduate training school for the medical workforce in the state.
The acquisition of the university has provided more admission slots for Jigawa indigenes that are qualified to read medical related courses but are being shot out because of lack of space. The university will also provide employment for Jigawa indigene especially the host community which will boost the social-economic activities of the area.
At the long run the social responsibilities of medical colleges to their immediate communities will help to improve the overall health and welfare of the local populace.
When you juxtapose the acquisition of Khadija University and its eventual conversion to university of Health Sciences and the massive investment of the state government in building a medical College in Sule Lamido University, Kafin –Hausa, you can then realized that his Excellency is more than determined to solve challenge of training medical personnel in the state on once and for all.
The Government has massively invested in infrastructure in SLU such that a 3.No 489 capacity female hostels are under construction, official quarters for the five principal officers have been constructed, and massive investment in the development of the university farm is ongoing while sabbatical lodge for Lecturers is on its way among others.
Since my focus is on university education, this article cannot be completed without the mentioning the scholarships provided by the Namadi administration to enable student to study within and outside the country. One of the first major act of educational transformation in the state is the Namadi led administration’s complete review of scholarship and Bursary award by 100 percent. The first of its kind in the state.
The sum of N3, 091,483,468 was released for students to study medicine and other related courses in India and Cyprus. The sum of N774.813,254 was also released to 26,835 students in tertiary institutions in Jigawa,kano and other schools in Nigeria.
In order to promote Legal education, the government also released the sum of N29,214,000 for payment of registration fees for Law students as well as purchase of 38 laptops for their use. The sum of N1, 550,122 was released to settle accommodation for Jigawa students in University of Maiduguri,KUSTand ATBU Bauchi among others. Similarly the government during the period under review paid the sum of N167, 024.950 to 3,029 Jigawa students in FUD,BUK,Wudil to settle their 60 percent fees because of increase in registration fees.
From all indication Governor Namadi has vowed to change the narrative of the education sector in the state and from his massive investments in the sector, by the time he complete his first tenure ,Jigawa will definitely compete with its counterpart in the educationally advance states of the southwest Nigeria. I salute the visionary leadership of his His Excellency and we prayed to Allah grant him a second tenure to complete the good work he is doing for the state.
- Hauwa wrote this article from Dutse,Jigawa state.
