…Says Borno invests N46.9bn in education in two years
Mujeeb Akindoyin
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has disclosed that insurgency destroyed more than 5,000 school structures across the state and, at its peak, forced about 2.2 million children out of school.
Zulum made the disclosure on Sunday in Maiduguri while inaugurating a number of completed projects, including education and road infrastructure.
The governor said the prolonged insurgency had not only devastated school infrastructure but also claimed the lives of teachers and school administrators who continued to serve communities despite the security challenges.
According to him, fewer than 500,000 children were enrolled in school at the height of the crisis.
“The insurgency destroyed more than 5,000 school structures, while at its peak, an estimated 2.2 million children were out of school, with fewer than 500,000 enrolled,” Zulum said.
“Many teachers and school administrators lost their lives in the course of duty.”
The governor said his administration had made the reconstruction and expansion of the education sector a major component of its post-insurgency recovery efforts.
Zulum stressed that rebuilding schools went beyond putting up physical structures, saying the objective was also to restore confidence in communities affected by years of violence and ensure children regain access to education.
“Rebuilding schools is beyond constructing physical structures. It is about restoring access to education, rebuilding confidence in our communities and providing our children with the opportunity to secure a better future,” he said.
He disclosed that the state government invested N46,987,069,675.33 in basic and secondary education between the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years.
Zulum said the projects being commissioned were part of a wider programme under which 136 additional projects had been completed and were awaiting commissioning.
The governor also announced improvements in school infrastructure, saying the number of usable classrooms at the public pre-primary and primary levels had risen to 5,792, while usable water, sanitation and hygiene facilities increased to 4,563.
At the senior secondary school level, he said the number of functional schools increased from 34 across eight local government areas in 2019 to 129 across 25 local government areas in 2026.
He further disclosed that school enrolment had increased substantially during the period.
According to him, enrolment rose from 766,551 learners in 2019 to 1,801,295 in 2026, representing an increase of more than one million learners within seven years.
Zulum attributed the increase to expanded access to education, improved public confidence and sustained investment in school infrastructure.
He said the projects inaugurated on Sunday included Larawaram Community Senior Secondary School, Shehu Sanda Kyarimi I Primary and Junior Secondary School, the Post Office nine-span flyover and the dualisation of the 2.5-kilometre road from Budum Tandari Junction to Kasuwan Shanu, alongside five kilometres of drainage.
The governor said the continued investment was part of efforts to rebuild Borno from the devastating impact of insurgency while creating conditions for children and young people to pursue education in safer and more conducive environments.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the education figures highlighted by the governor underscore the enormous challenge confronting Borno, where years of insurgency severely disrupted schooling, destroyed public infrastructure and displaced millions of residents.
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