The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Mathew Verghis, has commissioned seven landmark projects executed by the administration of Governor Babagana Zulum in Borno State.
The projects, comprising a flyover bridge, three state-of-the-art mega schools, and three dual-carriageway road projects, underscore Gov. Zulum’s strides in post-insurgency reconstruction, urban renewal, and human capital development.
Dr. Verghis, who performed the ceremonial tape-cutting at the events in Maiduguri, commended the governor’s commitment to rebuilding critical infrastructure and expanding access to education.
“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, with the federal government of Nigeria, and with the communities and families who are the true architects of this country’s future,”. Verghis said.
He described the newly completed schools as symbols of hope and resilience.
“These schools are more than a building; 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 to every family that has endured hardship and anxiety and uncertainty.”
Gov. Zulum described the projects as milestones in Borno’s education recovery and expansion efforts, particularly for orphans, vulnerable children, and those affected by conflict.
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According to the governor, findings from the World Bank-supported recovery and peace building assessment revealed that over 5,000 classrooms were destroyed at the height of the insurgency, leaving about 2.2 million children out of school.
“In response, our administration has constructed 104 new schools and rehabilitated 2,931 classrooms and related facilities,” Gov. Zulum said.
“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 of December 2025.”
He added that since 2019, the state government has distributed over 20 million exercise books, two million textbooks, 1.5 million school uniforms, and 700,000 school bags to pupils across the state.
The administration’s school feeding programme currently supports about 50,000 pupils annually, while the distribution of 10,000 bicycles has improved access to education in rural communities.
To address the needs of out-of-school youth beyond conventional school age, Gov. Zulum said the government has expanded Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), establishing five Vocational Enterprise Institutes, three Second-Chance Women and Girls Skills Entrepreneurship Schools, and reactivating nine vocational training centres.
Gov. Zulum noted that the projects form part of broader urban renewal efforts in Maiduguri and other parts of the state.
“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,” the governor said.
He also highlighted reforms to modernise the Tsangaya education system while preserving its heritage, including the establishment of higher Islamic colleges in each of the 27 local government areas, with 20 already completed, and the integration of literacy, numeracy, ICT, and vocational skills into the curriculum.
