Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has said his administration has enrolled more than 70,000 pupils in 130 Tsangaya schools into a literacy and numeracy programme aimed at integrating Qur’anic education with modern learning while preserving Islamic values.
Namadi disclosed this on Thursday while receiving the Country Director of Save the Children Nigeria, Duncan Harvey, and his delegation at the Government House, Dutse.
The governor said the initiative, being implemented under the Jigawa Integrated Literacy and Learning Programme, forms part of the state’s broader efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children and expand access to quality education for vulnerable children.
He explained that the government was also supporting traditional Qur’anic teachers through agricultural empowerment programmes to improve their livelihoods and ensure the long-term sustainability of the reforms.
“Keeping children in school cannot be left to government alone. Parents, communities, traditional institutions and public officials all have a role to play in ensuring every child receives quality education,” Namadi said.
The governor commended Save the Children Nigeria for its decade-long partnership with Jigawa in the areas of education, healthcare, nutrition and child protection, describing the organisation as a dependable development partner.
According to him, the organisation’s interventions through the PLANE and EYEPIN projects have improved access to education for thousands of children in Babura, Gwaram, Kafin Hausa and Malam Madori local government areas.
He also acknowledged the donation of teaching and learning materials valued at more than ₦85 million to the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board, saying the intervention would strengthen teaching and learning in public schools across the state.
“Our administration remains committed to building partnerships that will improve the quality of education and secure a better future for every child in Jigawa State,” the governor added.
Namadi noted that school enrolment and retention had become a standing agenda at meetings of the State Executive Council and other government engagements, while initiatives such as the Mothers’ Forum continued to encourage parents to enrol and keep their children in school.
The governor thanked Save the Children Nigeria for its continued support and reaffirmed his administration’s determination to invest in policies that improve learning outcomes and human capital development.
West Trybe reports that northern states have continued to strengthen efforts to integrate Tsangaya education into the formal education system through literacy, numeracy and skills development programmes aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children while preserving Islamic education.
