By The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Mathew Verghis, has commissioned seven major infrastructure and education projects delivered by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum in Borno State, reinforcing the state’s post-insurgency recovery and development efforts.
The projects include the West End flyover bridge, three mega schools, and three dual-carriageway road networks — key components of Borno’s urban renewal and human capital development strategy.
Schools, Roads and Bridges
Among the newly inaugurated schools are:
A 30-classroom Government Secondary School in Mainusari, Mairi
A 30-classroom Mega Primary School in Maimusari
A 20-classroom Command Secondary School in Maiduguri
On the infrastructure front, the West End flyover was commissioned alongside three dual-carriageway roads:
1.53 km Sultan Mainalari Road
2.3 km Bursari Road
2.4 km Shehu Sanda Kura Road
Together, the projects account for 7.44 kilometres of dual carriageway and 14.86 kilometres of drainage infrastructure.
World Bank Reaffirms Commitment
Speaking during the ceremony, Dr. Verghis commended Governor Zulum’s leadership and reaffirmed the World Bank’s continued support for Borno’s rebuilding process.
He described the newly built schools as a strong signal to young people particularly girls that their education and future remain a priority despite the state’s past challenges.
Rebuilding Education After Insurgency
Governor Zulum recalled that a World Bank-supported assessment revealed more than 5,000 classrooms were destroyed during the insurgency, leaving about 2.2 million children out of school at the peak of the crisis.
According to him, the administration has since constructed 104 new schools and rehabilitated 2,931 classrooms and related facilities. These interventions have reduced the number of out-of-school children by over 70 per cent — from 2.2 million to fewer than 800,000 — while enrolment has risen to over 1.4 million pupils as of December 2025.
To sustain enrolment, the government has distributed:
Over 20 million exercise books
2 million textbooks
1.5 million school uniforms
700,000 school bags
10,000 bicycles for rural students
About 50,000 pupils also benefit annually from the state’s school feeding programme.
Expanding Skills and Vocational Training
Beyond conventional education, the administration has strengthened Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for out-of-school youth.
Five Vocational Enterprise Institutes, three Second-Chance Women and Girls Skills Entrepreneurship Schools, and nine reactivated vocational training centres have been established across the state.
Reforms have also been introduced in the Tsangaya Islamic education system, with Higher Islamic Colleges now established in 20 of Borno’s 27 local government areas.
Urban Renewal Momentum
Governor Zulum further disclosed that his administration has constructed four flyovers — with a fifth underway — in addition to 412.6 kilometres of roads and 108.97 kilometres of drainage systems statewide.
The commissioning ceremony highlights the deepening partnership between the Borno State Government and the World Bank in rebuilding one of Nigeria’s most conflict-affected regions.
