A student support group in Jigawa State, JAGABA/DANMODI Students’ Mandate 2027, has inaugurated campus ambassadors to mobilise students across tertiary institutions in the state for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umar Namadi in the 2027 general elections.
Gatekeepers News reports that the group said its decision to support the two leaders was based on what it described as significant investments in education, skills development and youth empowerment by the federal and Jigawa state governments.
The convener of the group, Comrade Abdullahi Abdu Boyi, disclosed this in a statement following the inauguration on Monday, describing the initiative as a strategic move to establish a coordinated student mobilisation network across tertiary institutions in the state.
He said the group’s activities would focus on highlighting government interventions in education and their impact on students and residents.
Among the federal government’s initiatives cited by the group was the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which it said had benefited more than 1.6 million students, with over ₦322 billion disbursed across participating institutions.
The group also highlighted the federal government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, which targets more than one million young Nigerians across 1,600 centres, offering free tuition, monthly stipends and starter packs in areas such as electrical installation, welding and digital skills.
Boyi also commended the Tinubu administration for reaching an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which he said had helped address longstanding industrial disputes in the university system.
He also pointed to improvements in salaries, research funding and working conditions, as well as infrastructure projects approved under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
“We are here to launch a movement that will engage students on the successes recorded in education. The Campus Ambassadors will take this message to campuses, engage fellow students and ensure that young people are properly informed about the interventions affecting their education and future,” he said.
He added that TETFund infrastructure projects had been approved across higher institutions nationwide, alongside billions of naira in research grants for tertiary institutions.
Group highlights Namadi’s education investments
The student group also praised Governor Namadi’s administration for its investments in basic, secondary and tertiary education, as well as youth empowerment programmes.
It said more than 17,000 teachers had received training under the Jigawa UNITES programme, while the state government had employed 2,177 graduates and recruited 149 first-class graduates into tertiary institutions.
Boyi said Jigawa allocated 32 per cent of its state budget to education in 2024 and maintained the sector as a priority with a 26 per cent allocation in 2026.
He also highlighted the governor’s declaration of a state of emergency on education, aimed at addressing learning gaps and improving educational standards.
According to him, the state introduced free education for girls from primary school to PhD level in state-owned institutions to improve female enrolment, retention and access to higher education.
He said the government was also implementing the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme alongside mass literacy initiatives.
On teacher recruitment, Boyi said the administration increased the teaching workforce from 2,566 to 5,986 to address shortages across public schools.
He added that the J-TEACH initiative recruited 7,000 personnel, with 3,000 made permanent, while another 3,000 teachers and 4,200 personnel were added for senior secondary schools.
The group further cited the provision of more than 3,000 classrooms, 500 boreholes and 1,200 toilets to improve learning conditions and access to basic facilities in schools.
It also highlighted the construction of three mega boarding Tsangaya schools, each designed to accommodate 1,500 pupils, giving the facilities a combined capacity of 4,500.
According to Boyi, the interventions target 12,000 Almajirai through improved access to educational facilities.
He said the state also distributed uniforms to 11,000 nomadic pupils and 3,800 Almajiri pupils to support access to education.
On inclusive education, he said the government provided 300 bicycles and wheelchairs for students with disabilities.
The administration also established eight technical and vocational education and training (TVET) centres of excellence alongside seven existing technical schools to expand skills development opportunities.
Boyi said internet connectivity had been provided in all 293 senior secondary schools in the state to promote digital learning, research and access to educational resources.
He added that the government supplied 3,500 double beds and 3,840 mattresses to boarding schools, alongside the construction and rehabilitation of school facilities.
Jigawa spends billions on scholarships, youth empowerment
The group also highlighted the state’s scholarship and bursary programmes, saying the government spent ₦8.1 billion on scholarships for nearly 35,000 students in 2025.
It said another ₦10 billion was allocated for scholarship support in 2026, including assistance for lecturers.
The administration also reportedly provided ₦1.5 billion in bursaries to 22,388 students across 83 institutions to support their educational expenses.
Boyi said the state had sponsored 193 students to study in Cyprus under a programme valued at ₦892 million, with beneficiaries expected to return and serve the state.
He also cited the introduction of the DanModi Students Care special scholarship programme in 2025 to provide additional financial support to students.
The group commended the government for supporting the development of the Faculty of Medicine and student hostel facilities at Sule Lamido University.
It further noted that the 2026 budget provided ₦700 million for Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, and ₦900 million for the College of Education, Gumel, to support institutional development.
Beyond education, the group said the Namadi administration had empowered more than 500,000 youths, women and traders over the past three years, with an additional ₦1 billion provided through grants and loans to support small businesses.
It also highlighted the sponsorship of 500 students for artificial intelligence and emerging technology courses in partnership with the World Bank, under a programme valued at more than ₦100 million.
The newly inaugurated campus ambassadors were tasked with grassroots mobilisation and engaging students on education programmes implemented by the federal and state governments.
Boyi said the group was committed to ensuring that the interests of Jigawa students remained central to political discussions ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We cannot afford to return to a past where young people were denied opportunities, schools lacked basic facilities and students struggled to access quality education. The JAGABA/DANMODI STUDENTS’ MANDATE 2027 is committed to ensuring that the voices of Jigawa students are heard and their interests protected,” he said.
