Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
In a region once synonymous with rubble and depression, a quiet revolution is unfolding. The Borno State Government, under Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, is not just rebuilding schools, it is reimagining education as the cornerstone of post conflict renewal.
At the heart of this effort are 104 newly constructed mega schools, designed to offer state of the art learning environments to children whose education was stolen by years of insurgency.
The Federal Government has taken note. During a high profile inspection tour, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, hailed these institutions as a national blueprint for recovery. “What Governor Zulum has achieved here is a peak in educational infrastructure and policy,” he stated, standing inside the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mega School in Maiduguri.
Walking through the corridors of one of these mega schools feels like stepping into a different world, a stark contrast to the images of burnt classrooms and shattered blackboards that once dominated Borno narrative. Each facility is equipped with spacious, well ventilated classrooms furnished with modern desks and digital teaching aids, fully stocked science and computer laboratories to foster hands on learning with comprehensive libraries to nurture curiosity and critical thinking and expansive sporting facilities to promote holistic development.
“These schools are not just buildings, they are sanctuaries of hope,” said Prof. Usman Tar, Borno State Commissioner for Information, who guided the federal delegation.
The scale of the crisis that prompted this intervention is staggering. Boko Haram insurgents destroyed over 5,000 classrooms, displacing more than 600,000 school aged children. For years, education in Borno was not just interrupted, it was systematically targeted.
The 104 mega schools, along with 35 others under construction, represent one of the most ambitious educational rebuilding programs in Nigeria history. But the government strategy goes beyond infrastructure. It includes targeted scholarships for girls, orphans, and children of fallen security personnel, ensuring that the most vulnerable are not left behind.
Hauwa Abubakar, a teacher at the Tinubu Mega School, has witnessed the transformation firsthand. “Before now, we taught under trees or in makeshift shelters. Children were scared to come to school. But now it is not just a school but a statement that Borno is reclaiming its future.”
She added, “The laboratories and libraries are not just for show. They are tools to help these children compete with their peers anywhere in the world.”
On telephone interview, Bakura Baba Mala whose two children are enrolled in one of the new schools, said the facilities represent more than just education, they symbolize safety and normalcy. “During the crisis, we feared for our children lives. Today, we see them going to a school that is even better than those in peaceful states. This is the dividend of peace we prayed for.”
Among the students, the excitement is palpable. Aisha mala, a 12-year-old student who lost three years of schooling due to displacement, could not hide her joy. “I love the computer lab,” she said shyly on phone interview. “I want to become a doctor, and now I feel I can.”
Ba malum, speaks playfully, our school is beautiful, we have desk and our teacher teaches us everyday we come to school.
In our school feature assured, we don’t use to come with food, we were given two square mills a day, when we were enrolled uniforms, sandals, socks, were given to us free of charge said Khadija Mohammed.
September, 2025 Zulum announced a measures in Gajiganna town, where he approved stipends of N250,000 for their fathers, N50,000 for each of their mothers, and N50,000 each for the students themselves, alongside one free square meal daily.
During inauguration of Higher Islamic College, designed to blend the traditional Almajiri education system Sangaya with formal learning.
Gajiganna town with 50,000 people, with only 90 student were enrolled in the newly build secondary school.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. The government now faces the task of ensuring a steady supply of qualified teachers, providing continuous training, and maintaining the facilities. “Buildings alone cannot educate children,” acknowledged Prof. Tar. “We are also investing in teacher recruitment and welfare to sustain this momentum.”
Preliminary data from the Borno State Universal Basic Education Board SUBEB shows that a significant surge in enrollment, though specific numbers are still being compiled. The real test, however, will lie in learning outcomes and the long term impact on the state socio economic fabric.
Borno educational revival is a multi pronged strategy. By creating secure, attractive schools, the state is not only luring children back to learning but also preventing the radicalization of idle youth. It is enabling parents, particularly mothers, to engage in economic activities, thereby strengthening household resilience.
As the Federal Government endorses this model, Borno stands as a powerful testament to what is possible when political will meets visionary planning. From the ashes of insurgency, a new generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators is rising, each child in mega schools a bearer of hope, each classroom a fortress against the darkness of the past said Kaltune kolo.