Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has on Monday inaugurated two mega schools of 30 classrooms each constructed in Ajilari and Zannari communities in Maiduguri.
Speaking during the inauguration, Zulum said the development was in fulfillment of the request for such school by the communities during his visit to the communities last year.
“Today, I am very proud to commission the said projects and feel fulfilled for redeeming my pledge to these communities in view of their long yearnings and aspirations for a community school.
“This is inline with our commitment in revamping education as top priority in almost a decade of insurgency.
In this connection, you may recall that the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education was allocated the lion share in 2020 budget and this will continue in the 2021 fiscal year,” Zulum said.
While noting that there are many school projects going on in the state, Zulum commended the communities for choosing school projects pointing out that investment in knowledge always pay with best interest.
He said that the communities would run the school through a committee, while government would pay teachers salary through the state education trust fund.
“I therefore urge the Ajilari and Zannari communities to key into this initiative in order to establish and maintain a high standard of education in their respective communities.
“This will be through robust and constant monitoring and sustained efforts, ” Zulum said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of Borno State Education Trust Fund, Alhaji Maina Yaumi, said the schools would operate as co-education day school with nine-year basic education programme that ranges from primary one to Junior Secondary School.
“The catchment area for the admission and employment will be the community and its surrounding localities.
“A total of N13.6 was computed as running cost for each school per session,” Yaumi said.
Members of the communities who spoke to newsmen at the occassion expressed their joy and lauded the governor for fulfilling his promise.