Jigawa seeks $110m IsDB support to tackle education challenges

‎The Jigawa State Government is seeking $110 million in development financing from the Islamic Development Bank, IsDB, to address challenges in the education sector, including inadequate school infrastructure, teacher development, and poor learning environments.

‎

‎Governor Malam Umar Namadi disclosed this when he received an IsDB delegation led by the Bank’s Operations Team Leader for Social Infrastructure, Mr Imtiaz Alam, during a courtesy visit on Friday at Government House, Dutse.

‎The proposed intervention, tagged the SMART Project, is being developed in collaboration with the IsDB and will also cover two other participating states.

‎

‎”We approached the Islamic Development Bank because of its capacity not only to support development initiatives but also to mobilise other development partners and donors for priority interventions”.

‎

‎The governor explained that his administration had continued to implement measures aimed at improving school enrolment, retention and learning outcomes.

‎According to him, the proposed IsDB-supported project would complement these interventions by providing additional resources to improve school infrastructure, strengthen teacher development and enhance the overall quality of education.

‎

‎”Our objective is to improve learning outcomes and ensure that our students can compete favourably wherever they find themselves,” the governor said.

‎

‎Earlier, the IsDB delegation leader, Mr Imtiaz Alam, said the proposed $110 million project would support the construction of new schools, rehabilitation of existing facilities and provision of water and sanitation infrastructure.

‎

‎He added that the intervention would also include teacher training, capacity building and other measures to create a more conducive teaching and learning environment.