Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has raised concern that 800,000 children remain out of school in the state, down from an initial figure of more than two million.
Zulum spoke on Thursday when he received an African Union delegation, led by Ambassador Jainaba Jagne, the Commission Chairperson’s Special Envoy for Children Affected by Armed Conflict (CAAC), at the Government House in Maiduguri.
He attributed the high number of out-of-school children to years of insurgency, which disrupted education and left many children vulnerable to difficult living conditions.
The governor stressed the need to expand access to education, particularly for girls, and strengthen youth empowerment and peacebuilding efforts.
During the meeting, Zulum asked about the whereabouts of the Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Wakilbe, who was absent from the stakeholders’ meeting.
He described every child who returns to school as a sign of peace and development, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to child protection and girls’ education.
Speaking, the African Union Commission Chairperson’s Special Envoy for Children Affected by Armed Conflict (CAAC), Jainaba Jagne, emphasised the need to protect children affected by armed conflict from grave violations, including recruitment by armed groups, abduction, sexual violence, killing and maiming.
Jagne called for stronger cooperation among governments, regional bodies and other stakeholders to promote child protection and support the rehabilitation and reintegration of children affected by armed conflict.
Zulum also expressed concern over malnutrition, calling for improved livelihoods for mothers and caregivers to enable them to provide adequate food and care for their children.
He pledged continued collaboration with the African Union and other development partners to strengthen the reintegration, rehabilitation and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups, particularly children.
