The Jigawa State Government has declared a state of emergency on education with the unveiling of far-reaching reforms aimed at addressing poor literacy levels and building a stronger learning foundation across the state.

Governor Umar Namadi explained that the decision followed a baseline survey which revealed that eight out of every ten pupils in Primary One could neither read nor write.

“Education is the bedrock of any society. Our findings were alarming, so we had to act fast,” the governor said in an interview with PUNCH.

As part of the reforms, the administration split the Ministry of Education into two departments, Basic Education and Higher Education, to reduce bureaucracy and ensure better management.

To tackle the acute shortage of teachers, Namadi announced that his government confirmed 3,000 of the 4,500 J-Teach temporary staff as permanent and pensionable, recruited another 3,000 new teachers, and employed 4,200 more at the senior secondary level. This brought in more than 10,000 teachers within a few months.

The governor also noted that his administration empowered School-Based Management Committees and introduced Mothers’ Forums to strengthen school monitoring and parental involvement.

He explained that SBMCs are now tracking teacher attendance while mothers ensure children attend classes regularly, a move he said has improved both discipline and learning outcomes.

Jigawa also engaged NewGlobe, a UK-based education consultancy, to support improvements in literacy and numeracy. According to Namadi, the partnership is already producing “remarkable outcomes” in primary schools.

The state further integrated the Almajiri system into formal education by renovating Tsangaya schools and building three mega boarding Tsangaya institutions, each designed to accommodate 1,500 pupils. These schools combine Quranic learning with literacy, numeracy, and vocational training while farming their own food to remain sustainable.

At the higher education level, the government converted the School of Basic Studies in Bamabara into an Institute of Vocational Training equipped with N25 billion worth of modern facilities.

Eight secondary schools were upgraded to vocational excellence centers to produce middle-level manpower, while the State University of Technology was strengthened to provide advanced opportunities for graduates.

On teacher development, Namadi disclosed that more than 7,000 teachers at the basic level and 4,800 at the higher education level have already received training, with continuous programs being implemented through the NewGlobe partnership. About 10,000 teachers are also undergoing competency assessments to guide future training needs.

“Our goal is to build a professional, well-equipped, and motivated teaching workforce,” Namadi said, adding, “We are laying a solid foundation for the future of Jigawa.”

August 26, 2025 – The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has announced that the much-awaited recruitment shortlist will be released soon.

In a notice addressed to applicants, the service urged prospective fire officers to remain calm while preparing themselves ahead of the next stage of the process.

“Eat, I say EAT! Hunger is not part of the training syllabus,” the notice read, stressing the need for candidates to stay healthy. The FFS further advised, “Take care of your health. We need fit firefighters, not fainting champions.”

The message also highlighted the importance of rest, stating, “Sleep well. Counting fire trucks is better than counting sheep.”

Applicants were reminded to maintain physical fitness as “your potbelly won’t fit inside bunker gear.”

The agency concluded with reassurance: “Stay calm. The shortlist is coming, don’t burn yourself out before the fire does. Remember, the fire doesn’t wait for the unfit, so prepare well.”

August 25, 2025 – The Federal Government, through the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), has commissioned a state-of-the-art Automotive Training Centre at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu.

The commissioning ceremony, held on August 25, 2025, brought together key stakeholders from government, academia, and the automotive industry.

Representing the Lagos State Governor, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mrs. Morenikeji Azeez described the project as a timely initiative aimed at empowering young people and supporting the automotive sector in Nigeria.

She said, “Lagos State has laid great importance on training Lagosians in modern automotive technology. This facility will not only enhance the skills of youths and technicians but also strengthen the automotive industry in Lagos and Nigeria at large. With world-class equipment, our students will now train with the same diagnostic tools and safety systems used globally.”

The Honourable Minister of State for Industry under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Senator John Owan Enoh, explained that the new training centre is part of the Federal Government’s broader Automotive Policy.

According to him, the policy is designed to promote job creation, skills acquisition, technology transfer, and GDP growth. He added that it also aims to boost local vehicle production, achieve 40 percent local content, and ensure that 30 percent of vehicles produced in Nigeria are electric, with the target of creating one million jobs.

Highlighting the importance of decentralisation, Senator Enoh disclosed that the Lagos Automotive Training Centre is one of 23 such facilities strategically located across the country to guarantee equitable distribution of national assets.

Also speaking at the event, the NADDC Board Chairman, His Eminence Chief Emma Eneukwu, OFR, hailed the commissioning as a landmark achievement.

He described the facility as “a beacon of opportunity,” stressing its importance in training, research, and vehicle maintenance.

He further noted that the centre would prepare Nigerian students for emerging technologies, including Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversions, which are increasingly shaping global transportation.

In his remarks, the NADDC Director-General, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, reaffirmed the Council’s mandate to drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s automotive sector through targeted investments in skills development and infrastructure.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the new Automotive Policy, noting that the initiative was made possible under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Mr. Osanipin disclosed that the NADDC is currently constructing 23 training centres across the six geopolitical zones to expand opportunities for young Nigerians, promote innovation, and support local automotive value chains.

He further explained that Lagos was a strategic choice for the training facility due to its position as Nigeria’s commercial hub and a centre of innovation, trade, and entrepreneurship.

Ikorodu’s strong industrial clusters and vibrant micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were also highlighted as major enablers of the project.

The commissioning of the NADDC Automotive Training Centre at LASUSTECH is seen as more than an infrastructure milestone.

It represents a collaborative effort between government, academia, and industry to prepare Nigeria for the future of mobility, address unemployment, and strengthen national development.