Governor Babagana Zulum has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to post-conflict reconstruction and sustainable development following the commissioning of major education and infrastructure projects across Borno State.
The projects were inaugurated by the Nigeria Country Director of the World Bank, Dr. Mathew Verghis, who described the investments as significant milestones in rebuilding human capital and strengthening economic resilience in regions emerging from insurgency.
Verghis commended the state government for prioritising education and critical infrastructure as central pillars of recovery, stressing that long-term stability in conflict-affected areas depends on access to quality schooling, functional public assets and inclusive economic opportunities.
Among the facilities unveiled are three modern mega schools aimed at expanding access to learning in vulnerable communities: Government Secondary School Mainusari, Mega Primary School Maimusari, and Command Secondary School Maiduguri. The institutions are equipped with new classrooms, instructional materials and student support amenities.
The infrastructure component includes the West End flyover bridge and three dual carriageway roads along the Sultan Mainalari, Bursari and Shehu Sanda Kura corridors within Maiduguri metropolis. State officials said the projects are expected to ease traffic congestion, stimulate commercial activity and improve urban security surveillance.
Speaking at the ceremony, Zulum noted that years of insurgency had devastated the education sector, with more than 5,000 classrooms destroyed and thousands of students displaced. He said the government has since embarked on extensive reconstruction, building new schools and rehabilitating damaged ones across rural and urban communities.
He also highlighted social intervention initiatives designed to boost school enrolment and retention, including the distribution of textbooks and exercise books, provision of uniforms and learning materials, and the expansion of school feeding programmes.
To tackle youth unemployment, the governor said the state has strengthened vocational and technical education through the establishment of training institutes and entrepreneurship centres targeting women and young people, with a focus on skills acquisition and small business development.
Stakeholders at the event, including community leaders and development partners, described the projects as confidence-building measures for displaced populations gradually returning to normal life.
Observers say the deepening collaboration between Borno State and international development institutions signals sustained support for recovery, governance reform and long-term growth in Nigeria’s North-East.
