By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu
The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Mathew Verghis, has commissioned seven legacy projects executed by the administration of Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, marking a significant milestone in the state’s post-insurgency recovery efforts.
The projects, comprising a flyover bridge, three state-of-the-art mega schools, and three dual-carriageway roads, represent key pillars of Zulum’s urban renewal and human capital development agenda in Africa’s longest-running conflict zone.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Verghis commended the governor’s leadership and reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Borno’s reconstruction.
“We have seen today many of the programmes that Governor Zulum is leading and where the World Bank is supporting, and we are proud to do that and will continue to do so,” Verghis stated.
“We will continue to work with the government of Borno State, with the federal government of Nigeria, and with the communities and families who are the true architects of this country’s future.”
The educational projects inaugurated include the 30-classroom Government Secondary School, Maimusari, Mairi; the 30-classroom Mega Primary School, Maimusari; and the 20-classroom Command Secondary School, Maiduguri.
Others includes West End flyover bridge, the 1.53km Sultan Mainalari Dual Carriageway, the 2.3km Bursari Dual Carriageway, and the 2.4km Shehu Sanda Kura Dual Carriageway.
Governor Zulum highlighted his administration’s achievements in education, infrastructure, economic growth, and climate change mitigation since assuming office in 2019.
“Today’s commissioning of Maimusari Junior Secondary School, Mairi, alongside other mega school facilities, represents a major achievement in our education recovery and expansion efforts,” Zulum said.
“These modern 30-classroom mega schools are designed to provide equitable access to quality education, particularly for orphans, vulnerable children, and those affected by conflict.”
The governor cited findings from the World Bank-supported Recovery and Peace Building Assessment, which revealed that over 5,000 classrooms were destroyed during the peak of the insurgency, leaving approximately 2.2 million children out of school.
To sustain enrolment and retention, particularly among vulnerable households, the government has since 2019 provided over 20 million exercise books, 2 million textbooks, 1.5 million sets of school uniforms, 700,000 school bags, and other learning materials.
A school feeding programme now supports approximately 50,000 pupils annually, while 10,000 bicycles have been distributed to improve access for students in rural communities.
Addressing the challenge of out-of-school youth beyond conventional school age, Zulum noted that his administration has prioritised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The government has established five Vocational Enterprise Institutes, three Second-Chance Women and Girls Skills Entrepreneurship Schools, and reactivated nine vocational training centres across the state.
