By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
In its drive to make quality education accessible to every child, the Jigawa State Government has intensified efforts to strengthen planning and accountability in the education sector — with strong backing from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
At a workshop convened in Dutse to review and develop the Local Education Sector Operational Plan (LESOP), stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to building a more responsive and inclusive education system that addresses the unique needs of children across the state’s 27 local government areas.
The initiative, supported by UNICEF, is aimed at helping local governments align education interventions with evidence-based data, ensuring that resources and programmes reach the communities that need them most.
UNICEF Education Specialist, Mr. Michael Banda, commended Jigawa’s steady progress in reforming its education sector, describing the state as a model for data-driven planning in northern Nigeria.
He said the LESOP process would further enhance transparency, community participation, and accountability in education delivery.
“This review is about making education work for every child — girls and boys, those in remote communities, and children with disabilities,” Banda said. “It’s a practical step towards bridging gaps in access, quality, and equity.”
Banda urged state and local education authorities to tackle persistent barriers such as poverty, child labour, early marriage, and infrastructure deficits, which continue to keep some children out of school.
He also called for sustained funding and innovative financing mechanisms to improve classrooms, teacher recruitment, and learning materials.
Under the collaboration, UNICEF is supporting Jigawa in teacher training on foundational literacy and numeracy, strengthening data systems, and promoting community-led school improvement plans — interventions that aim to boost learning outcomes and reduce inequality.
Banda emphasised that the success of the LESOP would depend on its ability to translate state education policies into actionable local solutions, driven by community ownership and regular monitoring.
“The goal is not just to plan, but to act — ensuring every local government uses the LESOP as a living guide for innovation and accountability,” he said.
UNICEF reaffirmed its readiness to continue partnering with the Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, and state governments through EU-supported education and skills programmes designed to build resilient and equitable learning systems across northern Nigeria.
With these reforms, Jigawa is positioning itself to not only expand access to education but also to ensure that every child learns meaningfully, supported by motivated teachers and engaged communities — a vision aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for education.