Governor Babagana Zulum has pledged to strengthen the state’s partnership with the African Union to expand access to education for about 800,000 out-of-school children.

Mr Zulum made the pledge on Thursday when he received a delegation led by the AU chairperson’s special envoy for children affected by armed conflict, Jainaba Jagne, on a courtesy visit to Government House, Maiduguri.

The governor said the number of out-of-school children in the state had declined from more than two million about seven years ago to approximately 800,000, but stressed the need for sustained support to enrol more vulnerable children in schools.

“Education is the bedrock for any meaningful development, and therefore one area that we need support from the African Union is to increase access for out-of-school children to be enrolled in schools,” Mr Zulum said.

The governor said education remained central to Borno’s transition from humanitarian response to recovery, stabilisation and long-term development. Mr Zulum added that his administration had invested in school reconstruction, teacher recruitment and expanded learning opportunities, particularly for vulnerable children and girls.

“The protection of children is not merely a humanitarian obligation. It is a strategic investment in peace, security and sustainable development,” he said.

The governor identified education, psychosocial support, skills development and community acceptance as critical to the recovery and reintegration of children affected by insurgency. He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to providing safe and inclusive learning environments in line with the principles of the Safe Schools Declaration.

Mr Zulum also called for support to strengthen primary healthcare in communities with limited access to tertiary health facilities. He identified trained personnel, modern medical equipment and nutritional services as priorities for improving child health and tackling malnutrition.

“Our children deserve better attention. The issue of malnutrition is also there among our own society,” he said.

The governor stressed that protecting children also required improving the economic circumstances of their mothers and families.

“Enhancing the means of livelihood of the mothers will no doubt reduce the vulnerability of the children,” he added.

He reaffirmed Borno’s commitment to working with the AU, the federal government, the United Nations and other development partners on education recovery, youth empowerment, child protection and peacebuilding.

Ms Jagne commended the Zulum administration for its efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate children affected by insurgency, saying the experience could provide useful lessons for other African countries. 

She said her engagements with the first lady of Borno, Falmata Babagana Umara Zulum, and visits to the Bulumkutu Interim Care Centre and Muna Vocational Centre had enabled the delegation to assess the state’s interventions.

“We have to take back to the African Union member states the amazing work that is being done here in Borno state,” she said.

Ms Jagne said the delegation brought educational materials for more than 1,000 children, as well as hygiene supplies for adolescent girls undergoing reintegration. She said the visit was part of efforts to strengthen collaboration and promote the protection, education and reintegration of children affected by armed conflict.

(NAN)