By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: In a strategic move to eradicate learning poverty and bolster girl-child school retention, the Jigawa State Government has announced a robust partnership with UNICEF to achieve 100 percent Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WASH coverage across its 3,345 basic schools within the next two years.

The initiative, which signals a shift from pilot projects to full-scale implementation, aims to replicate the success of the state’s Open Defecation Free ODF status, the first of its kind in Nigeria, within the education sector.

Speaking on the sidelines of a UNICEF-sponsored media dialogue in Dutse, the Jigawa state capital, the Chairman of the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board SUBEB, Prof. Haruna Musa, disclosed that the 2026 budget has been designed to prioritize the scaling up of WASH facilities.

He noted that the state currently manages 8,689 toilets across 2,727 primary and 618 junior secondary schools but acknowledged that gaps remain.

“We are very strategic. Whatever is provided in the Medium Term Sector Strategy MTSS is what we implement in the budget.

“Our target is to achieve 100 percent implementation in terms of budget provision. This is a commitment from our side; we have to deliver”, Prof. Musa stated.

To protect these investments, the state has recruited 10,000 school guards to prevent encroachment and insecurity.

Prof. Musa also emphasized the role of sustainability, calling on Teachers, Parents and Mothers’ Associations to take ownership of the facilities.

He specifically urged learners to maintain hygiene, noting that “leaving the toilet the way you met it” is essential for long-term use.

Technical Adviser to Governor Umar Namadi on Basic Education, Dr Hauwa Babura, expressed confidence in the two-year timeline for total coverage.

She attributed this optimism to the governor’s consistent funding of the sector and the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Basic Education.

“If we continue at the rate we are going today, we will be able to achieve 100 percent level for our WASH facilities,” Dr. Babura said.

According to her, WASH is a critical pillar for the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs, particularly regarding equity and female education. “Providing water to girls gives them the confidence and self-esteem to sit in the classroom and learn with comfort and safety”, she stated.

UNICEF’s Chief Communication Specialist, Susan Akila, commended Jigawa as a “working state” and a model for health interventions.

However, she pointed to a 2021 country-wide survey showing that only 11 percent of schools in Nigeria have basic WASH facilities.

“Simple things like having WASH facilities can make a girl drop out of school because she is not comfortable during her menstrual period,” Akila noted.

She urged the government to ensure these facilities are not just available but gender-segregated and disability-friendly, especially in rural areas.

The urgency of this intervention is underscored by past tragedies, such as the reported death of a pupil at Gadadin Primary School while attempting to fetch water, and previous cholera outbreaks linked to contaminated community wells.

Government officials insist that with the new Technical Working Groups at the local government level and prioritized funding, such incidents will become a thing of the past.