IOM, Lake Chad Basin Commission Seal Pact to Deepen Peace, Recovery Efforts

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

In a renewed push to restore stability in the troubled Lake Chad region, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in peacebuilding, displacement management and long-term recovery.

The agreement was formalised in N’Djamena, bringing fresh momentum to joint efforts across countries affected by years of insurgencies and humanitarian crises, including Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon.

According to IOM, the new partnership provides a structured framework for both organisations to collaborate more closely under the Regional Strategy for Stabilisation, Recovery and Resilience (RSSRR) for areas impacted by Boko Haram violence in the Lake Chad Basin.

Speaking of development, IOM Regional Director Sylvia Ekra described the MoU as a significant step toward promoting lasting peace, security and sustainable development in the region.

“The agreement will enhance coordinated actions aimed at achieving durable solutions for displaced persons, promoting socio-economic recovery, strengthening governance, and fostering regional cooperation,” she said.

Ekra acknowledged that while the Lake Chad Basin is frequently portrayed as a zone of conflict and mass displacement, it also holds enormous potential for cooperation and shared prosperity across West and Central Africa.

She noted that the renewed partnership would improve alignment between regional strategies and operational activities on the ground. By combining reliable data, political will and coordinated interventions, she said, both institutions aim to reinforce frameworks that promote stability, safe mobility, and long-term resilience.

The Lake Chad crisis remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. Years of violent conflict, compounded by climate change and environmental degradation, have forced millions from their homes. By December 2025, food shortages and shrinking livelihoods have left more than 6.4 million people displaced or otherwise affected.

Ekra stressed the need for sustained investment that combines humanitarian response, development planning, and peacebuilding initiatives to address urgent needs while laying the foundation for lasting solutions.

Under the agreement, IOM and LCBC will deepen cooperation at both strategic and operational levels. The collaboration will support evidence-based policymaking on human mobility, enhance cross-border coordination, assist in the implementation of territorial action plans, and promote climate-resilient economic initiatives across the basin.

In his remarks, LCBC Executive Secretary Ambassador Mamman Nuhu expressed appreciation to IOM for the strengthened partnership, noting that the collaboration would help tackle displacement challenges and improve the safety and security of lives and property throughout the region.

The new accord signals a shared determination by both organisations to transform the Lake Chad Basin from a symbol of crisis to a model of recovery, resilience, and regional solidarity.

FAO empowers small-scale farmers to boost food security, employment in N’East

By Tada Juth, Maiduguri

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has stated that efforts are being intensified to further strengthen food security and employment and rebuild resilience among the vulnerable communities in the northeast region of Nigeria.

Speaking on Thursday, during a field visit to the Gongulong insurgency-affected community on the outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno State, FAO’s Senior Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer, Dunja Dujanovic, said, “The empowerment of small-scale farmholders’ interventions is an integrated agricultural project that has been transforming people’s livelihoods since 2019.”

According to her, the agricultural integrated initiative comprises crop production and aquaculture.

She stated that the combined agricultural practices will enable the affected communities to jointly cultivate and harvest food crops, while other farmers engage in fish farming to supplement their families’ protein intakes.

Besides food security in the region, Dujanovic added, “After producing the fish, they are sold to private sector investors and other food processing centers, where fish is used as a key ingredient in fortified porridge aimed at preventing severe acute malnutrition (SAM) among children.

She explained that the intervention forms part of FAO’s three-year emergency and resilience plan of action in Nigeria, which aligns with the organization’s global strategy to reduce acute hunger worldwide.

Dujanovic noted that Nigeria remains one of FAO’s top priority countries due to the rising scale of food security challenges.

She emphasised the importance of coordination among government institutions, development partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that investments are aligned and sustainable solutions are implemented.

Recent engagements in Abuja and at the state level, she stated, have focused on identifying practical, agriculture-driven solutions capable of transforming the food crisis and narrowing the food security gaps.

She added that the current focus is on scaling up agricultural pilot initiatives and strengthening partnerships with donors and international financial institutions.

She highlighted the value addition as a critical component of the strategy, explaining that developing stronger agricultural value chains would help create jobs for youth and women while tackling unemployment among youth and women.

Dujanovic added that FAO’s efforts align with the government’s broader goal of creating 21 million jobs and lifting 35 million Nigerians out of poverty.

Zulum’s Education Drive Bears Fruit as 615 Teachers Graduate from Special NCE Programme

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

In a significant boost to ongoing reforms in Borno’s education sector, the final batch of 615 teachers has successfully completed a two-year special Nigeria Certificate of Education (NCE) program, underscoring Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s sustained commitment to rebuilding and professionalising the state’s teaching workforce.

The graduation ceremony, held at the College of Education, Waka-Biu, over the weekend, marked a decisive step in the state government’s coordinated plan to phase out unqualified teachers and raise standards across public schools.

Originally, 647 teachers, drawn from all 27 local government areas of the state, were enrolled in the program. Out of that number, 615 completed the intensive training, which focused on practical classroom skills, pedagogy, literacy, and numeracy. The initiative was designed to equip participants with modern teaching techniques and strengthen their capacity to deliver quality education.

The special NCE program was coordinated by the Borno State Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) following a comprehensive statewide assessment that identified teachers in need of professional upgrades. The intervention forms part of broader reforms aimed at restoring confidence in the public education system after years of disruption.

Beyond training, the Zulum administration has also placed emphasis on teacher welfare. Among the measures introduced is the implementation of a ₦70,000 minimum wage for all primary school teachers, a move widely considered an incentive to boost morale and attract qualified personnel into the profession.

Speaking at the ceremony, Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe praised the resilience and dedication of the graduates. He announced that all successful trainees would be migrated to the approved minimum wage structure and placed on their appropriate grade levels in recognition of their new qualifications.

The Provost of the College of Education, Waka-Biu, Dr Gambo Saljaba, described the occasion as a milestone for the state’s education sector. According to him, the program’s completion represents a bold stride toward strengthening teacher quality across Borno.

He highlighted not only the academic achievements recorded but also the human stories that unfolded during the two-year journey — including three marriages, the birth of twins to one participant, and the unfortunate loss of three trainees. He commended Governor Zulum, the Commissioner for Education, and the Emir of Biu for their unwavering support.

Also addressing the graduates, the Permanent Secretary of the Borno State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Hyelni Mshelia, urged them to apply their newly acquired knowledge diligently in their respective schools. She encouraged them to uphold professionalism and remain committed to improving learning outcomes for pupils across the state.

The ceremony featured cultural displays and the formal presentation of certificates, symbolising a renewed chapter in Borno’s drive to ensure that every classroom is led by a qualified and competent teacher.

With the graduation of this final batch, the state’s ambitious teacher reform agenda appears firmly on course, signalling hope for a stronger and more resilient education system.