Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has introduced a fresh package of incentives to tackle low school enrolment in the northern part of the state.
Speaking in Gajiganna town, Zulum announced that pupils will receive one free meal daily while parents will be given financial support to encourage them to send their children to school.
“In a community of about 50,000 people, only 90 students are enrolled in secondary school. We must act to change this,” the governor said.
Under the intervention, each father will receive ₦250,000, mothers ₦50,000 each, while every student will get ₦50,000 in addition to free meals.
Zulum also inaugurated the Higher Islamic College in Gajiganna, which is designed to integrate the Almajiri (Sangaya) system with formal education. The institution will run a curriculum approved by the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), combining Islamic scholarship with science, mathematics, technology, English and vocational skills.
“Our goal is to prepare our children, especially Sangaya learners, with both traditional knowledge and the skills to thrive in today’s world,” he said.
The governor also commissioned the Government Day Secondary School in the town to serve as a referral centre for hundreds of pupils moving on from primary education.
