Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum on Wednesday in Monguno, supervised the enrollment of school-aged children whose parents were killed by Boko Haram insurgents. Zulum has been in Northern Borno since Sunday where he has undertaken series of humanitarian and developmental activities.
A total of 5,361 orphans were registered during the two-day exercise. The children were between the ages of seven and 13, and they will receive free uniforms, writing materials and free meals at their various schools.
The orphans were registered in the presence of their guardians who gave their biographic details, including places of displacement and indigenous local government areas.
The 5, 361 orphans are part of over 50,000 children either orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgency or whose parents and relations are missing as a result of attacks on several communities by Boko Haram since 2009.
Although the enrollment exercise was for orphans, other parents trooped out with their children demanding enrollment, for which Zulum promised to approve.
Zulum appealed to guardians of all the 5,361 orphans to ensure that their wards regularly attend school.
The Governor also announced that he will engage Islamiyya teachers to teach guardians and other adults who are willing to learn.
Zulum was supported by Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, Commissioners, and other top government officials during the enrollment exercises.
In a related development, Governor Zulum has approved scholarships from primary to tertiary education for children of the Civilian Joint Task Forces (CJTFs), hunters, and vigilantes fighting against Boko Haram insurgents.
Zulum supported volunteers with cash of N5, 000 each, and released patrol vehicles and other work tools when he visited Monguno.
The Governor told them that with their sacrifices, Borno State Government will help create opportunities for their children to obtain western education so that they can look forward to a promising future.