Children Should Not Only Survive but also Thrive – Gov. Namadi

From Ibrahim Musa Giginyu, Kano

Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, says his administration is doing everything possible to ensure that pupils in the state, especially the girl child, have access to adequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools to enable them not only to survive but also to thrive.

The governor made this known through his Technical Adviser on Basic Education, Dr. Hauwa Mustapha Babura, during a media dialogue held after a media tour of some schools and Primary Health Care (PHC) WASH facilities across Jigawa, organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

He stressed the importance of functional WASH facilities in keeping children, particularly girls, in school, adding that children should not only survive but must also thrive in good health.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Haruna Musa, stated that the state government is fully aware of the challenges facing basic education, particularly in the areas of school infrastructure and WASH facilities. He noted that the current administration is taking deliberate steps to address these challenges, assuring that the state is committed to achieving 100 per cent WASH coverage in schools by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We are aware of our challenges and we are working towards addressing them. However, learning cannot stop simply because there are no functional toilets in some schools. As you have seen, we are on track and we will get there in time,” he said.

He further 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).

She added that with sustained efforts, the state can achieve 100 per cent WASH coverage.

However, she raised concerns over national data, citing a 2021 WASH survey which showed that only 11 per cent of schools nationwide have basic WASH facilities, while Jigawa State records just 2 per cent. According to her, this is worrisome, as poor WASH conditions expose children and women to serious health risks and negatively affect school enrolment and retention.

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