By Umar Akilu Majeri, Dutse
The United Kingdom Government, working with UNICEF, has officially handed over climate-resilient infrastructure to the Jigawa State Government, marking a major achievement under the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS) initiative.
The facilities, comprising a primary school and a primary healthcare centre, were formally presented at a ceremony held at Chamo Primary School and Chamo Primary Health Care (PHC) in Dutse Local Government Area.
Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, praised the FCDO-UNICEF partnership for its contribution to development in the state and across Nigeria. He assured that his administration would give full backing to safeguard the longevity of the projects.
“We assure you of sustainability for every project delivered by the development partners for the betterment of Jigawa State citizens,” the governor said at the handover event.
Cynthia Rowe, Development Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), explained that the CRIBS programme, funded by the UK Government, was designed to establish a scalable framework for assessing climate risks in schools and primary healthcare facilities. She noted that the initiative had successfully rehabilitated 54 facilities across 15 local government areas in Kano and Jigawa States.
UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed, added that the project had developed an innovative method and tool for climate risk assessment. He pointed out that the upgrades incorporated measures such as flood-resistant foundations, stormwater management systems, and natural ventilation to shield the buildings from extreme weather conditions.
The handover ceremony, which underlined the importance of building resilience in the face of climate change, was attended by senior state officials alongside a delegation from FCDO and UNICEF. The facilities are expected to significantly improve the lives of local residents, particularly children and women, by ensuring reliable access to education and healthcare despite climate-related challenges.