The Kaduna State chapter of JAGABA/UBA Students’ Mandate 2027 has inaugurated campus ambassadors across tertiary institutions in the state as part of efforts to mobilise students for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in the 2027 general elections.
The initiative, according to the group, is designed to build a grassroots mobilisation network within tertiary institutions while creating awareness among students about what it described as the achievements of the Federal and Kaduna State governments in education, skills acquisition and youth empowerment.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Convener, Comrade Munzali Abubakar, described the Campus Ambassadors initiative as a strategic platform for engaging students and securing their support for the two political leaders.
He explained that the initiative would establish an organised structure across tertiary institutions to disseminate information on government policies, programmes and interventions in the education sector.
Abubakar said: “We are launching a movement to engage students on education sector achievements. Campus Ambassadors will take this message to campuses, engage their peers and inform young people about interventions affecting their education and future.”
He identified the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme as one of the major reasons behind the group’s endorsement of the Tinubu administration.
According to him, the interest-free student loan programme has widened access to tertiary education, with more than 1.6 million students benefiting from over ₦322 billion disbursed to institutions.
He also highlighted the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, which targets the training of more than one million young Nigerians across 1,600 centres.
The initiative provides beneficiaries with free tuition, monthly stipends and starter packs to support their training in vocational areas, including electrical installation, welding and digital skills.
The convener further listed the agreement reached between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as another notable development, arguing that it had helped resolve a prolonged industrial dispute while improving salaries, research funding and working conditions for university staff.
On the performance of the Kaduna State Government, Abubakar commended Governor Uba Sani for what he described as sustained investment in education at the basic, secondary and tertiary levels, alongside programmes aimed at improving youth employment and economic opportunities.
He disclosed that Kaduna allocated 25 per cent of its budget to education in 2024, increasing the figure to 26.14 per cent in 2025.
He said the state government had also embarked on extensive school infrastructure development, with projects distributed across the three senatorial districts.
Abubakar added, “TETFund infrastructure projects have also been approved for higher institutions nationwide, while billions of naira in research grants have been awarded to tertiary institutions.
“Since assuming office in May 2023, the administration has constructed 62 secondary schools, comprising 39 junior and 23 senior schools, while approving the construction of 50 additional schools. It has also delivered more than 2,326 new classrooms and renovated another 707 across the state.
“The government launched the $62.8 million Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) project in collaboration with the Kuwait Fund and other development partners in a bid to address the challenge of out-of-school children. The initiative is expected to provide 102 climate-resilient schools and rehabilitate 170 learning centres across the state’s 23 Local Government Areas.”
He also disclosed that the state had committed more than ₦1 billion to scholarships, student loans and other educational assistance programmes to reduce the financial challenges confronting students and improve access to learning.
On teacher development, the convener said 33,137 teachers, head teachers and school support officers had participated in the Teacher Professional Development programme, which covers modern teaching techniques, computer literacy and classroom management.
He further highlighted the introduction of the maiden SUBEB Best Teacher Award as part of efforts to promote excellence in the teaching profession.
Under the initiative, outstanding teachers selected from the state’s 23 local government areas received certificates and ₦500,000 each, while the overall winner received an additional ₦500,000.
Beyond conventional education, Abubakar pointed to the establishment of three Vocational and Technology Skills Acquisition Cities across Kaduna’s three senatorial zones as evidence of the administration’s commitment to equipping young people with practical skills.
He said the centres were designed to train 12,000 youths in their first year, with the capacity expected to rise to 24,000 in the second year.
According to him, training would cover 13 vocational disciplines, including welding, solar panel installation, fashion design and aluminium fabrication.
He added that participants would be eligible for National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) certification through a partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The group also drew attention to the ongoing redevelopment of Panteka Market into an industrial and vocational skills development centre.
The market, which hosts more than 38,000 artisans working in trades such as welding, carpentry and masonry, is undergoing infrastructure upgrades involving road networks, information and communication technology facilities, a clinic and a fire station.
The initiative is also expected to provide artisans with opportunities to acquire recognised NSQF certifications.
On youth entrepreneurship, the group said the Kaduna Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (K-YEEP) had supported more than 6,000 startups within less than two years.
It also identified the state’s TechHUBs as important platforms for developing digital skills among young people, particularly in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and robotics.
Abubakar equally praised the AREWA LADIES-4-TECH programme, implemented in partnership with Data Science Nigeria and Google.org, for equipping 5,100 women with information and communication technology skills.
He noted that career fairs organised in collaboration with Jobberman and the Mastercard Foundation had also strengthened employment opportunities by connecting job seekers with prospective employers, resulting in more than 300 confirmed job placements.
The convener further said the establishment of the Kaduna State Skills Development Council had provided an institutional framework for coordinating skills acquisition programmes and setting strategic priorities for the sector.
The newly inaugurated campus ambassadors were subsequently tasked with taking the mobilisation campaign to their respective institutions, engaging fellow students and promoting awareness of government policies and interventions.
Emphasising the need for sustained student participation in the political process, Abubakar said:”We cannot afford to return to a past where young people were denied opportunities, schools lacked basic facilities and students struggled to access quality education. JAGABA/UBA STUDENTS’ MANDATE 2027 is committed to ensuring that the voices of Kaduna students are heard and their interests protected,” the Convener stated.
“The future of Kaduna depends significantly on the quality of education available to its young people. Our responsibility as students and young citizens is to understand these interventions, engage constructively and make our voices heard. JAGABA/UBA STUDENTS’ MANDATE 2027 will ensure that the interests and aspirations of Kaduna students remain at the heart of our mobilisation.” he added.
