By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa State Government has reiterated its commitment to continuing the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme for primary school pupils across the state.
The Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Haruna Musa, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office.
He confirmed that the 2025 approved budget includes provisions for the programme, ensuring its continuity once the Federal Government resumes its funding.
Professor Musa explained that the school feeding programme is a joint initiative between the federal and state governments, with the federal government funding meals for pupils in primary one to three, while Jigawa State covers primary four to six. However, the programme was suspended due to the federal government halting its funding.
“Governor Malam Umar Namadi has consistently made provisions for school feeding in every annual budget. He allocated funds in 2024 and increased the amount in 2025 to accommodate possible inflation in food prices. The state government is fully prepared to resume the programme as soon as the federal government reinstates its funding,” Musa stated.
He urged the federal government to revisit the programme without further delay, emphasizing its positive impact on school attendance when it was previously active.
Reacting to a recent UNICEF report, which listed Jigawa as one of the states with the highest number of out-of-school children and poor foundational literacy and numeracy skills, Professor Musa acknowledged the challenge but described it as an inherited problem that has persisted for decades.
“Governor Malam Umar Namadi is committed to addressing this issue through strategic measures, including recruiting over 5,000 qualified teachers and providing adequate teaching and learning materials to schools,” he said.
As part of its reforms, the Jigawa State Government has partnered with NewGlobe, a UK-based education solutions provider, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the “Jigawa Unite” initiative aimed at transforming basic education in the state.
“Our partnership with NewGlobe is a deliberate step toward improving foundational education. We are committed to ensuring every child in Jigawa receives quality education, and I believe history will judge us right for this investment in our children’s future,” Musa added.
According to UNICEF data, Jigawa State has about 800,000 out-of-school children, with only 2% of primary school learners possessing foundational reading skills, while less than 1% demonstrate basic numeracy skills.
With the renewed focus on school feeding, teacher recruitment, and strategic partnerships, the state government hopes to improve school enrollment and educational outcomes across Jigawa.