Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has called for support from the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, to address critical challenges in the basic education sector.
Namadi made the call during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement by Apeh David, Head, Public Relations and Protocol, the visit focused on strengthening the partnership between Jigawa State and UBEC.
Governor Namadi reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to improving educational outcomes across the state.
He called for deeper collaboration to tackle pressing issues such as maintenance of infrastructure and teacher shortages.
The Governor also highlighted innovative strategies being employed by the state to boost school enrollment, particularly the engagement of women as community influencers and mobilizers.
He noted that women are playing a pivotal role in raising awareness about the importance of education and encouraging parents to enroll their children, especially girls, in school.
On her part, UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba commended Jigawa State for its strong track record, especially in the timely payment of counterpart funding, effective implementation of UBEC-supported projects, and commitment to transparency.
She expressed commitment of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue to provide support to the state governments in line with the ongoing efforts to transform basic education in Nigeria.
Garba underscored the importance of collaboration and the need to prioritize delivery of quality education noting that Jigawa’s dedication has earned the state increased financial support and greater access to intervention funds.
She also informed the Governor that Jigawa was part of the beneficiaries of the Hope-Edu World Bank funded project that will kick off soon in addressing challenges in the basic education sector.
A key highlight of the meeting was UBEC’s renewed commitment to intensify capacity-building initiatives in Jigawa State.
The Commission plans to launch targeted programs aimed at improving the skills of teachers and education managers, ultimately enhancing service delivery and learning outcomes at the basic education level.
The visit marks a significant step forward in the collaborative effort between UBEC and the Jigawa State Government to ensure that every child has access to quality, inclusive, and equitable education.