Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State inaugurated the Higher Islamic College in Gajiganna, northern Borno, alongside announcing a support package of free daily meals and financial stipends aimed at encouraging education in an area severely affected by insurgency and low school attendance.
Governor Zulum unveiled a novel educational institution designed to merge the traditional Almajiri system, locally known as Sangaya, with formal academic curricula. This new establishment is an expanding network of about 20 similar schools across the state that provide a blend of Islamic studies, science, technology, mathematics, and foundational English.
This project strives to equip students with both Islamic knowledge and practicals, alongside literacy and vocational skills as key goals. At the inauguration, the governor emphasized the necessity of focused efforts in northern Borno, where only 90 students were enrolled in a secondary school within a town of approximately 50,000 inhabitants.
To support these pupils and their families, the administration has rolled out a financial aid package that awards N250,000 to fathers and N50,000 to mothers of enrolled students. Additionally, each student will receive N50,000 to assist with their basic needs. Complementing these resources, free nutritious meals will be provided daily at higher Islamic colleges and schools facing low enrollment figures.
The governor also commissioned the Government Day Secondary School in Gajiganna, intended as a central hub for students completing primary education in the locality. The comprehensive plan is a balanced approach, for preserving the valued Islamic traditions while incorporating vocational training and modern subjects, aimed at revitalizing education and curbing dropout rates caused by socio-economic challenges in the conflict-ridden region.
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