The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) has commenced the distribution of 174,366 textbooks, 190,175 exercise books and 32,343 school uniforms to public schools across Kaduna State.
The Executive Chairman of the board, Mr. Mubarak Muhammad, disclosed this during an event held on Monday in Kaduna.
He said other materials being distributed include 3,675 pairs of school sandals, 3,675 school bags, 40,175 pencils, 36,000 biros, 36,000 rulers and 2,788 sports equipment items for pupils statewide.
Muhammad described the intervention as a reflection of the government’s commitment to strengthening basic education delivery.
“These items are more than numbers; they represent opportunity, dignity and renewed hope for thousands of children across the state,” he said.
He explained that the textbooks would enhance instructional delivery, while exercise books would improve practice and learning retention. He added that uniforms, sandals and school bags would promote inclusion and reduce socio-economic barriers to regular school attendance.
According to him, the board’s mandate extends beyond infrastructure to improving learning outcomes and ensuring that no child is left behind due to a lack of basic learning materials.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, said the exercise was aimed at strengthening hope and improving foundational education.
Represented by the Acting Director of Academic Services, Mrs. Zipora Banguru, she noted that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which places education at the centre of national development.
Garba outlined UBEC’s statutory responsibilities, including coordinating the implementation of the Universal Basic Education programme, disbursing intervention funds to states and the Federal Capital Territory, and ensuring quality, access, equity and accountability.
She disclosed that the commission is distributing over one million school bags, shoes, pencils and exercise books nationwide, alongside 8,369,514 assorted teaching and learning materials for Early Childhood Care Development and Education and primary schools.
According to her, 567,180 teachers’ guides, 419,293 library resources for junior secondary schools, 1,480 interactive smart boards and 287 computers for digital literacy centres are also being deployed, while more than 2,000 schools are undergoing renovation.
The National Team Lead of the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), Mr. Samuel Achimugu, said the board’s leadership had recorded visible improvements in education in the past four to five years.
He disclosed that English transition materials were being piloted in 138 schools, with 1,033 cartons supplied for primary two and three pupils, alongside 1,183 teachers’ guides and 200 cartons of flashcards for primary one pupils.
He explained that the initiative supports the transition from mother tongue to English in line with federal language policy directives and aims to strengthen pupils’ English proficiency.
Achimugu urged the state government to scale up the materials across all 23 local government areas after the pilot phase.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Vocational Training to Gov. Uba Sani, Murjanatu Shika, described the distribution as a major achievement and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to education and youth development, including the establishment of three vocational centres in Kaduna.