By Adamu Yusuf
Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board has flagged off a large-scale distribution of learning materials to public schools across the state’s 23 local government areas.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Board’s headquarters in Kaduna, the Executive Chairman of the board, Mubarak Muhammad, said the initiative reflects the priority placed on education by the administration of Uba Sani.
According to him, the materials being distributed include 174,366 textbooks, 190,175 exercise books, and 32,343 school uniforms.
Other items are 3,675 pairs of school sandals, 3,675 school bags, 40,175 pencils, 36,000 biros, 36,000 rulers, and 2,788 pieces of sports equipment.
“These items are more than numbers; they represent opportunity, dignity, and renewed hope for thousands of children across Kaduna State,” Muhammad said.
He explained that the textbooks would enhance instructional delivery, while the exercise books would improve practice, retention, and overall learning outcomes. He added that uniforms, sandals, and school bags would promote inclusion and reduce socio-economic barriers that often hinder regular school attendance.
In her address, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, who was represented by the Acting Director of Academic Services, Mrs. Zipora Banguru, described the exercise as one aimed at “strengthening hope” beyond the distribution of materials.
She said the initiative aligns with Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places education at the centre of national development.
“Human capital development begins at the basic education level, where strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, values, and skills are laid,” Garba said.
Garba disclosed that UBEC is currently distributing over one million school bags, shoes, pencils, and exercise books nationwide, alongside more than eight million teaching and learning materials for early childhood and primary education.
These include 567,180 teachers’ guides, 419,293 library resources for junior secondary schools, 1,480 interactive smart boards, and 287 computers and digital literacy centre equipment for 37 centres.
She added that over 2,000 schools nationwide are undergoing renovation.
Describing the Kaduna distribution as a model of collaborative governance, she urged stakeholders to ensure that all items reach classrooms and translate into measurable improvements in learning outcomes.
In his remarks, the National Team Lead of the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), Mr. Samuel Achimugu, commended KADSUBEB for what he described as visible improvements in the education sector over the past four to five years.
Achimugu said the programme has strengthened foundational literacy and numeracy, with recent learning assessments showing measurable progress.
He disclosed that English transition materials are currently being piloted in 138 schools, with 1,033 cartons supplied for Primary Two and Three pupils.
Additional resources, he said, include 1,183 teachers’ guides for Primary One to Three English literacy and 200 cartons of flashcards for Primary One pupils, in support of the federal government’s mother tongue-to-English transition policy.
