Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has said his administration is intensifying efforts to ensure that pupils in the state, particularly the girl child, have access to adequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools.
Namadi stated that the initiative is aimed at enabling children not only to survive but also to thrive in a healthy and conducive learning environment.
The governor, who spoke through his Technical Adviser on Basic Education, Dr. Hauwa Mustapha Babura, made this known during a media dialogue held after a tour of selected schools and Primary Health Care (PHC) WASH facilities across Jigawa State. The tour was organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
He emphasised that functional WASH facilities are critical to improving school enrolment, retention and academic performance, especially among girls.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Haruna Musa, said the state government is fully aware of the challenges facing basic education, particularly in the areas of school infrastructure and WASH facilities.
He explained that the current administration is taking deliberate steps to address the challenges and remains committed to achieving 100 per cent WASH coverage in schools by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prof. Musa disclosed that the state has 2,727 primary schools with 6,585 toilets, while 618 junior secondary schools have a total of 2,104 toilets.
In her remarks, UNICEF’s Advocacy and Risk Communication Specialist, Dr. Sussan Akila, commended Jigawa State for being the first state in Nigeria to be declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), noting that sustained efforts would help the state achieve full WASH coverage.
However, she expressed concern over national statistics, citing a 2021 WASH survey which revealed that only 11 per cent of schools nationwide have basic WASH facilities, while Jigawa State records just 2 per cent. She described the situation as worrisome, noting that poor WASH conditions expose children and women to serious health risks and negatively affect school enrolment and retention.
