Borno enrolls 5,361 orphans, offers vigilantes’ children scholarships

The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum, has supervised the enrolment of school-aged children whose parents were killed by Boko Haram.

The enrolment was done on Wednesday during a visit to the governor of Monguno, where a total of 5,361 orphans were registered during the two-day exercise.

The enrolled children were between the ages and seven and thirteen, with each provided with free school uniforms, writing materials and free meals at school on the instruction of the governor.

The orphans were registered in the presence of their guardians, who gave their details, including places of displacement and indigenous local government area.

The 5,361 orphans were part of over 50,000 children either orphaned by Boko Haram or having parents and relations missing as a result of attacks on several communities by BOKO haram since 2009.

Although the enrollment was for orphans, other parents trooped out with their children, demanding enrolment, which Zulum promised to approve.

The governor appealed to guardians of the 5,361 orphans to ensure their wards regularly attended school.

He also announced that he would engage Islamiyya teachers to teach guardians and other adults willing to learn.

Zulum was supported by the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan; commissioner and other top government officials during the exercise.

The governor, also during his visit to Monguro, approved scholarships from primary to tertiary education for children of civilian joint task forces, hunters and vigilantes fighting Boko Haram.

He supported volunteers with cash of N5,000 each and released patrol vehicles and other working tools.

Zulum also told them that with their sacrifices , the Borno State government would create opportunities for their children to obtain western education so that they could look forward to a promising future.