The Jigawa Government has earmarked N400m for the renovation of seven tsangaya schools in the state.

Dr Abubakar Maje, the Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Tsangaya Education Board, made the disclosure shortly after defending the board’s budget for 2025 fiscal year before the Jigawa House of Assembly Committee on Education, in Dutse on Thursday.

Maje said the sum of N1.82bn was approved by the state government as the total money to be spent by the board on capital and recurrent expenditure in 2025.\

He explained that N400m would be used to renovate the existing seven tsangaya schools established by the Federal Government in 2012.

The schools were established to integrate the Tsangaya Islamic education into the western system of education and to tackle the problem of out-of-school children, including almajiris.

The pilot scheme took off in 2012 in Niger, Kano, Adamawa, Yobe, Katsina, Oyo, and Jigawa states.

Seven of the schools were established in different locations across the selected local government areas in Jigawa state.

“We planned to spend N400 million to renovate the seven tsangaya schools established by the federal government in Gwiwa, Jahun, Sulenkarkar, Maigatari, Birniwa, Kirikasamma and Buji LGAs.

“The first thing we intend to do is to renovate these schools as they are currently in dilapidated condition and when I approached our governor about this, he quickly approved the renovation of all the seven schools,” Maje said.

He explained that the development would enable the board to enrol more students, particularly those out of school.

The executive secretary added that when renovated, the schools are expected to admit 7,500 more students.

“Our target is to enrol 2,000 more pupils in each of the two biggest schools in Gwiwa and Gantsa because they’re the biggest.

“While in the remaining five schools we planned to enrol 500 more pupils,” the executive secretary said.

According to him, the board also planned to hold a three-day sensitization and awareness creation workshop for Islamic teachers across the state with a view to identify and address grey areas with regards to tsangaya education system.

“During this workshop, there will be a question and answer session where grey areas will be identified in order to address them for the success of the system,” Maje assured.

He added that the tsangaya education system has three components: tsangaya (recitation hall), conventional class, where pupils will be taught English language, mathematics and science as well as skills acquisition classes, where pupils will be trained in Plaster of Paris (POP), carpentry, plumbing, among other trades.

“This is to enable the students to become self-reliant after graduation, without waiting for white collar job.”

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has charged students of the Junior Course 98 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, to be enterprising, diligent and resourceful.

Oluyede gave the charge while addressing the students at their regimental dinner night on Wednesday in Jaji, Kaduna State.

According to him, possessing the attributes will enable them build successfully on their career and personal lives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dinner night is one of the major events lined up for the graduation of the students on Friday.

Oluyede said the objective of the college was to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of selected officers to prepare them for staff and command appointments.

He said the officers in the last 23 weeks had learnt some vital concepts like counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, estimate process and manoeuvring approach to warfare and peace support operations.

“It is also gratifying that you learnt the rudiments of time management, perseverance, determination, team spirit, staff work, and self-confidence and most importantly, discipline while on this course.

“Your leadership, dedication and ability to inspire and guide your teams are essential to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and excellence.

”As junior leaders, you must be able to inspire confidence in subordinates and not lead through intimidation or be overtly coercive.

“Your impact significantly contributes to the overall plan and objectives at the operational and strategic levels, “he said.

The army chief congratulated the students on the successful completion of their course

NAN reports that prizes were given to students who distinguished themselves

The Nigerian Navy says it will undertake extensive rehabilitation of abandoned accommodation facilities across its formations nationwide in 2025.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, disclosed this during the inauguration of newly refurbished accommodation buildings at the Headquarters of the Naval Training Command (HQ NAVTRAC) on Wednesday in Ebube-Eleme, Rivers.

The completed projects include two blocks of 94-room apartments built for Ratings at HQ NAVTRAC, as well as a block of 56 one-bedroom flats for Junior Ratings at the Nigerian Navy Barracks in Borikiri.

Others are the HQ NAVTRAC Command Officer’s Mess and a newly constructed Command Training House located in the New Government Reserve Area in Port Harcourt.

Ogalla revealed that the navy would rehabilitate additional abandoned accommodation buildings and upgrade existing facilities in order to address the accommodation deficit faced by personnel across naval formations nationwide.

“The navy places a high values on the welfare of its personnel; understanding that human resources are the most critical component of our operations.

“As such, we have directed our commands nationwide to rehabilitate all accommodation facilities within their bases, ensuring that we can house personnel currently residing outside the barracks.

“We are pleased to commission these projects, including the 56 one-bedroom block structure, which will provide housing for at least 56 families.”

The navy chief expressed optimism regarding the completion of three additional blocks of living quarters within the command in 2025.

“We will continue to rehabilitate and repurpose abandoned accommodations to address the serious shortage of housing for personnel.

“Our resources are being channelled towards ensuring that every facility capable of rehabilitation is restored, alongside the construction of new housing in Port Harcourt and other locations,” he said.

Ogalla commended the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) NACTRAC, Rear Adm. Istafanus Albara, and his team for successfully completing the projects.

He encouraged other officers to emulate Albara’s dedication in carrying out his task.

Earlier, Albara expressed gratitude to Ogalla for relocating the NAVTRAC headquarters from Lagos to Ebubu-Eleme, Rivers, in May 2024.

He highlighted the substantial progress made in infrastructural development at the base since the relocation.

“The previously dilapidated facility handed over to the Nigerian Navy has gradually been transformed into a serene naval base; a feat made possible by the unwavering support of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Ogalla.

“These projects were executed through the direct labour of navy personnel, showcasing the CNS’s commitment to human capital development within the navy.

“This transformation has boosted morale and confidence among personnel while enhancing their resource management skills,” Albara concluded.