2.2m children back in school as Zulum expands infrastructure

2026-03-03 - 00:07

*World Bank chief flags off Gov’s 7 legacy projects By Ndahi Marama Maiduguri—Borno State has taken a major step in tackling its out-of-school crisis as Governor Babangida Umara Zulum commissioned seven landmark projects aimed at boosting education, infrastructure, and post-insurgency recovery. The ceremony was presided over by the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Matthew Verghis, who praised the governor’s administration for its transformative initiatives. The commissioned projects include a flyover bridge, three state-of-the-art mega schools, and three dual-carriageway roads, representing significant strides in urban renewal and human capital development. Dr. Verghis said, “These schools are more than buildings; they tell every young person in this community that their future matters. They tell every girl who was told that school was not for her, we disagree. They tell every family that has endured hardship and uncertainty.” The newly commissioned schools comprise the 30-classroom Government Secondary School, Mainusari, Mairi, the 30-classroom Mega Primary School, Maimusari, and the 20-classroom Command Secondary School, Maiduguri. Road projects include the West End Flyover Bridge, the 1.53 km Sultan Mainalari Dual Carriage Road, the 2.3 km Bursari Dual Carriage Road, and the 2.4 km Shehu Sanda Kura Dual Carriage Road. Governor Zulum highlighted that over 5,000 classrooms were destroyed during the insurgency, leaving around 2.2 million children out of school. In response, his administration has built 104 new schools and rehabilitated 2,931 classrooms, reducing the number of out-of-school children by more than 70 percent to fewer than 800,000. Enrolment now exceeds 1.4 million children. To support continued education, the state has provided over 20 million exercise books, 2 million textbooks, 1.5 million uniforms, 700,000 school bags, and other learning materials. A school feeding programme supports 50,000 pupils annually, while 10,000 bicycles have been distributed to improve access for rural students. For older youths, the administration has prioritised Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, establishing five Vocational Enterprise Institutes, three Second-Chance Women and Girls Skills Entrepreneurship Schools, and reviving nine vocational centres. The Tsangaya education system is also being modernised, with Higher Islamic Colleges being set up across the state’s 27 local government areas. On infrastructure, Zulum announced the commissioning of 7.44 km of dual carriageways, 14.86 km of drainage systems, and the state’s third flyover bridge, adding that a fourth flyover and over 412 km of roads have been completed, alongside 108.97 km of drainage networks. “These interventions reflect our unwavering commitment to removing barriers to education, empowering youth, and fostering economic growth,” Governor Zulum said. , affirming Borno’s continued focus on post-insurgency recovery and sustainable development.