JIGAWAUNITE LAUNCHED: A New Era for education in Jigawa state

By Nana A Sadi, Dutse

In a bid to revolutionize the education sector in Jigawa State, the state government has launched a landmark education reform initiative known as JigawaUNITE. The program aims to improve the quality of public primary education across the state, with a focus on foundational literacy and numeracy.

According to the Honourable Commissioner for Basic Education, Dr. Lawan Yunusa Danzomo, the program is designed to equip teachers with the skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality education. “Teachers, you are the umbrella of success. You are the models. You are the champions of change,” he said.

The program, which is being implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Basic Education and the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has already completed its first phase of training in Dutse. A total of 1,449 teachers and 250 head teachers will participate in an intensive induction focused on effective classroom practices, learner engagement, and the use of digital teaching tools.

The JigawaUNITE program is powered by a global model that has been proven in countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, and Liberia, as well as in several Nigerian states. It combines teacher coaching, real-time classroom data, and proven pedagogical methods to deliver measurable improvements in foundational literacy and numeracy.

The Board Secretary of SUBEB, Mallam Bello Ballama, expressed his commitment to ensuring that every teacher in Jigawa is trained, equipped, and supported through this initiative. “We are fully committed to ensuring that every teacher in Jigawa is trained, equipped, and supported through this initiative. JigawaUNITE is not a one-time intervention. It is a long-term investment in the future of our children and our education system,” he said.

The launch of JigawaUNITE has been met with enthusiasm from teachers and education stakeholders. Comrade Abdulkadir Yunusa, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Jigawa State chapter, praised the program, saying, “I have seen very rigorous changes. Teachers are telling me they are now receiving clear training that will help them shift their mindset.”

With JigawaUNITE, the state government is taking a significant step towards improving the quality of education in Jigawa State. The program’s focus on foundational literacy and numeracy, combined with its emphasis on teacher training and digital teaching tools, makes it a comprehensive approach to education reform.

As the program continues to roll out across the state, parents, teachers, and communities can expect to see more energized classrooms, more confident teachers, and more engaged pupils. With its commitment to long-term investment in education, JigawaUNITE is poised to make a lasting impact on the state’s education sector.