Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has inaugurated the Higher Islamic College in Gajiganna, northern Borno, as part of efforts to modernize the traditional Almajiri education system while expanding access to formal learning.
The 48-classroom college will integrate the Sangaya (Almajiri) model with formal subjects under a curriculum approved by the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), blending Islamic scholarship with Science, Mathematics, Technology, and English.
Speaking at the ceremony on Friday, Zulum said his administration had so far built about 20 similar colleges across different local government areas to equip Almajirai with literacy and vocational skills.
“Our goal is clear: to provide our children, especially Sangaya learners, with the knowledge and skills required to thrive in today’s world,” he said.
The governor also commissioned the Government Day Secondary School, Gajiganna, which will serve as a feeder institution for pupils completing primary education in the area.
Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, praised the governor’s record, noting that 104 mega schools had been delivered in six years, with an additional 35 under construction.
In a separate directive, Zulum approved the provision of one square meal daily for students of Islamic colleges and schools with low enrollment. He also announced stipends of ₦250,000 for fathers, ₦50,000 for mothers, and ₦50,000 each for students in Gajiganna to encourage educational participation in the insurgency-affected northern part of the state.
Zulum emphasized that the measures were aimed at tackling low enrollment in the region, where a town of about 50,000 residents recently recorded only 90 students in its secondary school.
The event was attended by senior political leaders, including Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, members of the House of Representatives, and top government officials.
