By Ali Rabiu Ali, Dutse
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the Jigawa State Government for what it described as remarkable commitment to education, human capital development and infrastructure under the leadership of Governor Malam Umar Namadi.
The commendation followed an inspection visit by NANS officials to various projects and educational institutions across the state on Friday, January 16, 2026, ahead of the NANS Electoral Zone A Convention scheduled to hold in Jigawa State.
During the visit, the students’ leaders toured key projects including the Dutse Mega School, Danmodi Housing Estate, Renewed Hope Skills Acquisition Centre, Jigawa State Polytechnic Dutse, and agricultural facilities where hundreds of tractors and modern farming equipment supplied by the state government were displayed to boost agricultural productivity.
Speaking during the visit, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Matters, Ambassador Muhammad Salisu (Seeker), said the tour was aimed at exposing the NANS leadership to the scale of work being carried out by Governor Namadi, particularly in the education sector.
He said many people were only aware of “10 to 20 percent” of the administration’s achievements, stressing that education had received unprecedented attention since the government came into office in 2023.
According to him, the government introduced special pre-admission support programmes to encourage secondary school students to gain access to tertiary education, including free examinations and forms for over 15,000 students across the state in 2024.
He revealed that admissions into tertiary institutions had increased significantly, rising from an average of 2,000-3,000 students annually to over 5,800 students in 2024, and more than 7,000 university admissions recorded in 2025 alone.
Ambassador Salisu added that the scholarship scheme was also expanded, with payments doubled across categories, while female students enjoy free education policies, including full sponsorship for those in nursing and midwifery schools.
“In 2024, over 30,000 students benefited from state scholarships with more than N5 billion spent. In 2025, beneficiaries increased to about 42,000 students. This shows the steady effort to close educational gaps in Jigawa State,” he said.
He acknowledged challenges raised by students during the visit, including shortages of teachers and classroom furniture, but noted that the government had already recruited over 4,000 teachers within two years and was addressing challenges gradually.
“The governor is doing his best. No government can solve all problems at once, but the commitment is clear and visible,” he added.
Also speaking, the NANS Zonal Coordinator for Zone A, Comrade Saidi Garba Said from Kano State, said the visit was part of activities ahead of the 2025 zonal convention and an assessment of development projects executed by the Jigawa State Government.
He described the facilities visited as impressive, particularly the Dutse Mega School, where NANS officials interacted directly with students to assess their welfare and learning environment.
“At the housing estates, we observed that projects are about 80 to 90 percent completed, which will improve the social wellbeing of the people,” he said.
Comrade Saidi also praised the Renewed Hope Skills Acquisition Centre, noting that it would enhance employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and self-reliance among students and youths.
“One unique thing about Jigawa State is its strong commitment to female education and scholarships. From our tour of the North-West, we have not seen this level of comprehensive support in other states,” he said.
He further commended ongoing infrastructure development at Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, including lecture theatres, hostels and renovations, describing the administration’s efforts as exemplary in education, agriculture and human capital development.
The NANS leader said the peaceful atmosphere in Jigawa State throughout their stay further reflected good governance, and called on other states to emulate Jigawa’s student-friendly policies.
He concluded by praying for continued guidance and success for Governor Namadi in delivering more development projects for the benefit of the state and its people.
