World bank boss commends Zulum for massive investment in education

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr Mathew Verghis, has commended Governor Babagana Zulum for his massive investment in the education sector which to him is the very foundation for development.

He described Borno as a State of resilience, history and long term scholarship which is why he is not surprised that education has become a front burner investment which has come to stay.

The World Bank boss made the remark during the commissioning of the Maimusari primary and junior secondary school Mairi on Monday in the presence of the Governor and several dignitaries who witnessed the occasion.

Dr Verghis noted that the commissioning of 104 mega schools so far in the state is a continuation of the legacy and scholarship that has been associated with the renowned Kanem Borno Empire.

Verghis called on the students to ask questions to enable them make progress and “dream” very well to get to the very essence of seeking for an education which is the reason for being in school.

Earlier, the World Bank boss had commissioned some legacy projects executed by the administration of Governor Babaganda Zulum before arriving Mairi in jere council area.

The projects, comprising a flyover bridge, three state-of-the-art mega schools and three dual-carriageway road projects, represents Zulum’s giant strides in Borno’s post-insurgency urban renewal and human capital development agenda.

He stated during one of the events that, “We have seen today many of the programmes that Governor Zulum is leading and where the World Bank is supporting, and we are proud to do that and will continue to do so.

“We will continue to work with the government of Borno State, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the communities and families who are the true architects of this country’s future.

“These schools are more than buildings; it is a testament, it says to every young person in this community, your future matters, it says to every girl who was told that school was not for her, we disagree, it says all this to every family that has endured hardship and anxiety and uncertainty.” said Verghis.

The newly commissioned educational facilities included the 30 classrooms Government Secondary School, Maimusari, Mairi; the 30 classrooms Mega Primary School, Maimusari and the Classrooms Command Secondary School, Maiduguri.

Other projects commissioned were the West End flyover bridge, the 1.53 km Sultan Mainalari Dual Carriage Road, the 2.3 km Bursari Dual Carriage Road and the 2.4 km Shehu Sanda Kura Dual Carriage Road.

Responding, Zulum highlighted some of the milestones achieved by his administration, including equitable access to quality education, infrastructure and urban renewal, economic growth and efforts on climate change.

He stressed that “Today’s commissioning of Maimusari Junior Secondary School, Mairi, alongside other mega school facilities, represents a major achievement in our education recovery and expansion efforts. These modern 30 classroom mega schools are designed to provide equitable access to quality education, particularly for orphans, vulnerable children, and those affected by conflict.

“The urgency of these investments is reflected in findings from the World Bank-supported Recovery and Peace Building Assessment, which revealed that over 5,000 classrooms were destroyed, leaving approximately 2.2 million children out of school at the peak of the crisis.

“In response, our administration has constructed 104 new schools and rehabilitated 2,931 classrooms and related facilities. These interventions have reduced the number of out-of-school children by over 70 per cent, bringing the figure to fewer than 800,000, while school enrolment has increased to over 1.4 million children as at December 2025.

“To sustain school enrolment and retention, particularly among children from vulnerable households, our administration has implemented comprehensive support measures since 2019. These include the provision of over 20 million exercise books, 2 million textbooks, 1.5 million sets of school uniforms, 700,000 school bags, and other essential learning materials.

“In addition, our school feeding programme supports approximately 50,000 pupils annually, while the distribution of 10,000 bicycles has improved access to education for students in rural communities. These interventions reflect our unwavering commitment to removing barriers to education and ensuring that no child is left behind.

“In response to the large number of out-of-school youth who have exceeded conventional school age, our administration has prioritised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a pathway for skills acquisition and economic empowerment. We have established five Vocational Enterprise Institutes, three Second-Chance Women and Girls Skills Entrepreneurship Schools, and reactivated nine vocational training centres across the State.

“In addition, we have undertaken reforms to modernise the Tsangaya education system while preserving its rich heritage. As part of this initiative, we are establishing Higher Islamic Colleges in each of the 27 local government areas, with 20 already completed, alongside the introduction of basic literacy, numeracy, English Language proficiency, ICT, and technical and vocational skills to equip learners with competencies relevant to today’s world.

“Beyond education, our administration continues to invest significantly in critical infrastructure to support urban renewal and economic growth. Today, you commissioned 7.44 kilometres of dual carriageway, 14.86 kilometres of drainage infrastructure, and our third flyover bridge.

” In total, we have constructed four flyovers, with another currently underway, alongside approximately 412.603 kilometres of roads and 108.97 kilometres of drainage systems across the State.” said the Governor.

World bank boss commends Zulum for massive investment in education