Jigawa State Government Aims for Comprehensive WASH Facilities in Schools by 2030

Jigawa State's Governor, Umar Namadi, has shared that his administration is focused on improving access to adequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools, particularly targeting girls to ensure not only their survival but also their success in education.

The governor relayed this message through Dr. Hauwa Mustapha Babura, his Technical Adviser on Basic Education, during a media dialogue following a tour of selected schools and Primary Health Care (PHC) WASH facilities in the state.

The tour was conducted under the auspices of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Governor Namadi emphasized the critical role that functional WASH facilities play in maintaining school attendance among children, especially girls. He highlighted that access to proper sanitation and hygiene is essential for students’ health, dignity, and academic success.

In a similar vein, Prof. Haruna Musa, the Executive Chairman of the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), pointed out that the state government is aware of the hurdles faced in basic education, particularly in relation to school infrastructure and WASH facilities.

He assured that the administration is taking intentional measures to resolve these challenges and is committed to achieving 100% WASH coverage in schools by the year 2030, aiming to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"We acknowledge our challenges, and we are actively working to address them. However, education should not be hindered by the lack of functional toilets in certain schools. As demonstrated during the tour, we are making headway towards our objectives in due time," he articulated.

Moreover, Prof. Musa disclosed that Jigawa State has 2,727 primary schools equipped with 6,585 toilets, while there are 618 junior secondary schools with a total of 2,104 toilets.

UNICEF’s Advocacy and Risk Communication Specialist, Dr. Sussan Akila, praised Jigawa State for being the first in Nigeria to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.

She further noted that with continued efforts, the state can realize 100% coverage of WASH facilities across all schools.