The Bauchi State Government has commenced the local production of exercise books and chalks for distribution to schools across the state, in a move aimed at boosting academic excellence and reducing reliance on external contractors.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Muhammed Rimin-Zayam, announced this on Friday during an inspection of the production site at the Education Resource Centre (ERC) in Bauchi.
According to him, the initiative, supported by Governor Bala Mohammed, marks a significant step in ensuring that schools in the state have access to quality, locally produced learning materials.
“You can see that exercise books are being locally made in Bauchi State under the supervision of the Ministry of Education with the support of Gov. Bala Mohammed. The fact that we can produce exercise books in Bauchi State is a great achievement. There is no point in going to China. By this development, it will phase out the number of undue, unqualified contractors that supply substandard materials,” Rimin-Zayam said.
He disclosed that, in addition to producing exercise books and chalks, the state is also rebranding existing textbooks to extend their lifespan and give them a fresh look.
“If we can have our textbooks made and rebranded in the state, our chalks are being made here, too. What else do we need?” he added.
The commissioner explained that the ERC project demonstrates the government’s commitment to revitalising the education sector by supplying schools with home-made products such as exercise books, chalks, and textbooks.
“When we are well fed, then we can think of exporting these chalks for revenue generation to the state and to the ministry as well. The chalks are made in millions, and the producers are our staff who are being paid,” he stated.
Also speaking, the Director of the ERC, Kabiru Ahmed, praised the dedication and speed of the workers, noting that their commitment had significantly improved production output. He said the initiative was already yielding positive results for the state’s education sector.
The development comes shortly after stakeholders reviewed Bauchi State’s 2025 second-quarter budget performance in education. The meeting, held on September 25 under the Strengthening Advocacy for Girls Education Project funded by the Malala Fund, brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, and other key players in the sector.
