The story of Borno State’s remarkable journey of recovery is a policy that has not been left to chance. Every initiative reflects a carefully and well-planned strategy where education stands as the cornerstone of sustainable development. 

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s visionary leadership is about to transform education from a basic service into the driving force behind resettlement, peacebuilding, and economic revitalisation in a state that has faced over a decade-long insurgency.

Everyone knew from day one of the conflict, the very first day the first bullet was fired, that education would be in serious trouble in Borno. It came to pass, and this is a story for another day. Today I choose to discuss a carefully designed recovery approach. 

The devastating impact of over a decade of conflict left Borno’s educational system in ruins. Hundreds of thousands displaced, schools destroyed across the state and countless futures put on hold. 

This educational collapse threatened to perpetuate cycles of poverty, unemployment, and vulnerability to crimes and all other vices and societal ills one can imagine. 

Governor Zulum recognised early that true resettlement meant more than just returning people to their homes; it required rebuilding the very institutions that shape society’s future.

Governor Zulum’s approach to school restoration goes far beyond physical reconstruction. Each constructed or reopened institution serves as a beacon of hope for the children of the poor, like me, and the rich as well. 

The move is paving the way for the return to normalcy for children whose lives were disrupted by violence. 

Across the state, there seem to be no places left unturned in the construction or reconstruction of schools, especially what is today termed ‘mega schools, which have marked the landscape with iconic structures that stand as testaments to Governor Zulum’s commitment, with multiple institutions in some regions ensuring equitable access to quality education. 

These schools will not only serve as centres of learning, which is their primary function they will also serve as critical centres for reintegration and social cohesion, helping to stitch the fabric of communities torn apart by conflict.

The government’s comprehensive strategy encompasses multiple fronts. From teachers’ employment and training of existing ones across the three senatorial zones, scholarship programmes have also been made available, which has led to opening the doors for qualified undergraduates and postgraduates, both within Nigeria and outside Nigeria.

Vocational training centres in Magumeri, Muna, Biu, and other places are equipping young people with practical skills in agriculture, technology, and various trades that will directly address the present and future problems of unemployment that often fuel unrest. 

The establishment of specialised institutions like the Schools of Nursing in Monguno and Gwoza, along with the Borno State University Teaching Hospital project, demonstrates how educational development is being integrated with healthcare advancement. 

Note that the Borno State University and the Borno State University Teaching Hospital are a subject for another day when I will revisit to discuss more. Significant investments in higher Islamic education across all three senatorial zones ensure that moral and ethical education progresses alongside modern learning; this is in itself a weapon to get out of our present situation in Borno. 

We cannot move on here without mentioning the ongoing programmes and reforms for the tsangaya institutions, which is also reserved for another day and time.

When you look at it critically, Governor Zulum’s administration is about to achieve a feat, silently positioning education as a powerful counterinsurgency tool. 

By creating viable alternatives through vocational training and scholarship opportunities, the government is changing the incentive structure that might otherwise lead young people to degeneration at our own detriment. 

Quality education fosters the critical thinking skills needed to resist any negative narratives, while inclusive programmes ensure no child in Borno is left behind when it comes to education.

The resettlement programme championed by the Zulum-led administration is also focused on a model increasingly visible across Borno. 

With what is on the ground, soon we will have all out-of-school children in schools; graduates from vocational programmes will be launching businesses and achieving financial independence. Perhaps most importantly.

As Borno continues its journey from devastation to renewal, one truth remains evident: education is one of the most crucial and important golden threads that connects resettlement with lasting security and prosperity. 

Governor Zulum’s comprehensive approach, urgent in its implementation yet designed for long-term impact, proves that even the deepest wounds of conflict can heal when knowledge leads the way.

While challenges remain, the foundation has been firmly established: through the power of education, Borno is not merely rebuilding what was lost but charting a bold new course toward a brighter future for all its citizens.

Ahmed Aliko Ahmed SSA on DDR to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.