Zulum Unveils N47bn Education Investment, Major Infrastructure Projects
Ahmed Kaigama
Gov. Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno says his administration invested N46.98 billion in basic, secondary and tertiary education between the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years.
Zulum disclosed this on Sunday in Maiduguri while speaking at the commissioning of major education and infrastructural development projects attended by Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and other dignitaries.
He said the investment was part of sustained efforts to rebuild the state’s education sector and provide the infrastructure required to equip young people with knowledge and skills for the future.
According to him, the administration inherited a severely disrupted education system following years of insurgency, which destroyed more than 5,000 school structures and left about 2.2 million children out of school at the peak of the crisis.
Zulum said 136 education projects had been completed, were awaiting commissioning or were under construction across the state.
He added that usable classrooms in public pre-primary and primary schools had increased to 5,792, while functional Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities rose to 4,563.
The governor said functional senior secondary schools increased from 34 in eight Local Government Areas in 2019 to 129 in 25 LGAs in 2026.
He also said school enrolment increased from 766,551 learners in 2019 to 1,801,295 in 2026.
Zulum said his administration was revitalising Sangaya education by integrating Islamic studies with science, mathematics, technology and foundational English under the NBAIS-approved curriculum.
He disclosed that 25 Higher Islamic Colleges had either been completed or were at advanced stages of development out of the planned 27 across the state.
The governor said N14.54 billion was committed to ICT-related education infrastructure, including 25 digital literacy and ICT centres and computer-based testing facilities in 100 secondary schools.
He added that more than N15 billion had been invested in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), while N4 billion was committed to teacher training and professional development.
Zulum said the government had recruited 5,000 teachers and trained more than 11,000 basic-level teachers, bringing the teaching workforce to 19,316.
On infrastructure, he said four major projects were being commissioned, including the Larawaram Community Senior Secondary School, Shehu Sanda Kyarimi I Primary and Junior Secondary School, the nine-span Post Office flyover and a 2.5-kilometre dualised road with five kilometres of drainage from Budum-Tandari Junction to Kasuwan Shanu.
He said the Post Office flyover cost N15.96 billion and was completed within 11 months, while the road project cost N5 billion.
Zulum said the projects would ease traffic congestion, improve road safety and facilitate the movement of people and goods.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in education, infrastructure, skills development and human capital as part of efforts to rebuild Borno and secure a better future for its people.
He appreciated Sule, traditional and religious leaders, development partners, teachers, parents and residents for their support and resilience
NAN
