In a strategic move to transform the educational sector and empower the youth with practical skills, the Government of Jigawa State has officially commissioned the newly upgraded Center of Excellence on Technical and Vocational Training at Garki, Garki Local Government.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Malam Umar Namadi described the day as a milestone in Jigawa’s journey toward educational advancement and economic empowerment.
“Today is such an important day to us. In our move to greater Jigawa and in our effort to improve the educational standard in the state. Today we are commissioning one of the schools we have designated as centers of excellence. This is the school we have designated to provide vocational and technical education to our students.”
He acknowledged the foundational efforts of the previous administration, noting that the school was initially constructed at the cost of almost ₦635 million and, upon assuming office, his administration restructured the institution into a center of excellence through substantial investments.
“When we came and decided to combat it as center of excellence, we have undertaken several renovations, including building additional hostels and the general renovation of the schools, which cost almost about ₦700 million,” he said.
To ensure the facility meets the highest standards in technical education, he said the government has undertaken the construction of additional structures.
“We have recently awarded a contract for the construction of workshop to the cost of more than ₦600 million. We are also in the process of awarding contract for the supply of equipment worth ₦3.1 billion. All this we are doing in order to ensure that the school is turned into a center of excellence for the training of vocational and technical education in the state.”
Governor Namadi revealed that the school has already admitted its first set of over 200 carefully selected students—both male and female—from across the state’s 27 local government areas.
“We have conducted rigorous examinations in all the schools and conducted interviews and in each local government the best eight students were selected for admission into this school. This comprises of both male and female. I think the first admission comprises of about 130 males and about 75 female students.”
According to the governor, the new center will begin operations with three foundational courses as a start: Welding and Fabrication, Building Technology, and Catering Services.
“As time goes on, we will build more workshops, we will provide more equipment, and we will introduce more courses,” he said.
Governor Namadi emphasized that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to develop both middle-level and high-level manpower in Jigawa.
“This school will be one of the schools that will produce another student that will be taken to Babura at the senior higher institution for vocational and technical training. We are going to spend more than ₦20 billion in providing equipment, building workshops in Babura, so as to ensure that we brought the school to best standard,” he declared.
He added that similar schools are underway in various parts of the state for the training of specialists in welding, painting, fabrication, scaffolding, and other technical fields.
The Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment through education and skills acquisition.
“All these are done in our effort to ensure that we have succeeded in providing a very good means of livelihood for our teaming youth in Jigawa State. As far as we are concerned, we’ll make sure that all the students in Jigawa State have the best opportunity to pursue their career in whatever profession they choose to be.”
The event was attended by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmed, the Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin and other dignitaries from within the state and beyond.
Hamisu Mohammed Gumel
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Jigawa State
May 12, 2025
