Basic Education Gets Boost in Jigawa as Namadi Launches Danmodi Students Care Scheme Worth N600M Targets PWD, Almajiri
By: Ahmed Aminu Dutse
Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, has launched the Danmodi Students Care Mega Programme, a program focused on special attention to children leaving disability, street beggars (Almajiri) and schools dropped out amounting to over 25,000 across the state.
The programme places special emphasis on children living with disabilities, Almajiri (street beggars), and school dropouts spread across the 27 local government areas of Jigawa State.
Speaking at the launch, Namadi said the initiative was a core component of his administration’s 12-Point Agenda for Greater Jigawa, which prioritised investment in people particularly education as a catalyst for sustainable development.
According to him, the Danmodi Students Care Initiative complements the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially in the area of basic and general education reforms.
“This programme is designed to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government, which seeks to expand access, equity and quality in education. Our commitment at the state level is to ensure that no child is left behind,” Namadi said.
He said that the Federal Government’s establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has further strengthened opportunities for indigent students to access tertiary education, describing it as a landmark intervention under President Tinubu’s education reforms.
Namadi said that in the 2025 fiscal year alone, the State Government invested N8.1 billion in scholarship support, benefitting nearly 35,000 students in local and international institutions as part of its human capital development drive.
He stressed that the Danmodi Students Care Programme has evolved into a transformative and inclusive intervention, covering learners at all levels, including Almajiri in traditional Qur’anic schools.
“I am highly delighted that this initiative prioritises inclusivity, dignity and hope. It reflects our unwavering commitment to education and student welfare, ensuring that every child receives the support needed to thrive,” the governor stated.
As part of the 2026 phase of the programme, Namadi announced the rollout of a wide-ranging empowerment package, including the distribution of educational materials and school uniforms to 25,000 out-of-school children, as well as the provision of 300 bicycles and wheelchairs to improve access and mobility for secondary school students and children with disabilities.
Other interventions included the distribution of 100 laptops to Jigawa students at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil and the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna, alongside the empowerment of 2,500 Almajiri and 287 Qur’anic school teachers to further entrench inclusive education.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Affairs, Muhammad Salisu Seeker, said that within two and a half years, the Danmodi Students Care Programme has become a household name in Jigawa State, directly benefiting over 250,000 students.
He said that the initiative has facilitated university admissions for more than 15,000 students and placements for over 40,000 others in colleges of education, polytechnics and monotechnics, while also reducing dropout rates through the distribution of 55,000 school uniforms, 55,000 school bags and 200,000 exercise books.
The programme, observers say, underscores Jigawa State’s resolve to align state level policies with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope vision, using education as a foundation for inclusive growth and long-term prosperity.
