….Aim to Prevent Youth Radicalisation and Strengthen Community Resilience
Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has inaugurated six educational and information and communication technology (ICT) projects to combat violent extremism and terrorists’ activities in the state.
The commissioned projects are sited in Biu and Bayo Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the south senatorial district.
According to him, the critical education and health projects comprise a 60-classroom Higher Islamic College and an ICT and healthcare centres to avert youths from being radicalised by terrorist groups.
Unveiling the counter-terrorism projects over the weekend at Biryel, Zulum disclosed: “We’ve implemented education policies that allow almajiri pupils to undergo the formal education process of undermining various forms of extremism among the youths in the state.”
Besides combating extremism, the governor added that the Tsangaya education system had been the bedrock of Islamic learning in the north and predated modern forms of education.
Other projects commissioned included 10 units of two-bedroom semi-detached houses for teachers to address their accommodation problems.
On the adaptation of Tsangaya education, he said, “Our approach to education reforms. has been both strategic and inclusive,” stating that it will ensure and preserve the essence of the Tsangaya education system.
Additionally, he reiterated that Tsangaya has been integrated with modern educational practices of equipping the children with skills.
He said the acquired skills will enable the children to thrive in today’s global village and technology.
The governor continued, “Our vision is in line with global educational trends, by recognising the importance of critical thinking, technical expertise, digital literacy, and religious knowledge.”
He said that the state government is determined to ensure that no child in Borno is left behind, stating that “this is regardless of their educational backgrounds.”
Students from villages in Biu and Bayo local councils were distributed bicycles to commute to their respective schools.
Zulum also pledged to establish a Higher Islamic College (HIC) in each of the 27 LGAs.
He, therefore, directed the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation to make the rehabilitation of existing staff quarters and the construction of new ones a priority in the 2025 budget.
