Borno to construct schools for children orphaned by Boko Haram

Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state, says his administration awarded a N1.6 billion contract for the construction of nine mega primary schools in the state. 

Shettima told NAN the gesture was also aimed at providing access to education for over 49,000 children orphaned by the Boko Haram crisis in the state.

“We have awarded contracts for the construction of nine mega primary schools across the state,” he said.

“We are also building a mega school in Maiduguri deliberately for the children orphaned by the Boko Haram crisis.”

Shettima said the schools would have accommodation, kitchen and sporting facilities.

He explained that the action was part of government post insurgency plan to safeguard the future of children orphaned by the insurgency.

“It is gratifying to note that peace has started returning to this part of the world,” he said.

“But as we win the war against Boko Haram insurgents, we are yet to commence the bigger war of trying to meet the aspiration of about 49,000 children orphaned by the crisis in Maiduguri alone.”

Shettima said there was no data on the number of children orphaned or women widowed as a result of the crisis.

“Nobody can give the exact number of people affected or women who lost their bread winners, but there are thousands of them,” he said.

“It is in our own self-interest as a people to let these people have hope by educating the orphans and empowering the widows and make them have stake in the 21st Century.”

Shettima said government must ensure the future of the orphans and the widows for posterity sake.

“If we fail to secure their future, they will turn to monsters that will haunt us in the nearest future,” he said.

“Along this line, we are determined to invest in the education of the children and that is why we are building the schools.”