National
Borno Officials Urge School Re-Enrollment at Damboa Education Forum
By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde
Borno State’s education commissioner on urged parents in Damboa to return their children to school, warning that rising dropout rates threaten the region’s recovery from years of conflict.
He made the call at a town hall meeting organised by the Zenith of the Girl Child and Women Initiative Support (ZEGCAWIS), which brought stakeholders together to discuss barriers to schooling and ways to improve retention, especially for girls.
“Education is the bedrock of any meaningful society,” said Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation. He said many children in Damboa Local Government Area remain out of school and appealed to parents and guardians to ensure enrollment and regular attendance.
Teachers, parents, youth leaders, women’s groups and local officials attended the forum, which focused on strengthening community support for education in an area affected by insecurity and displacement.
Aishatu Kabu, founder of ZEGCAWIS, said educating girls is essential to strengthening community resilience, especially in areas still recovering from conflict. She spoke extensively about the high number of out-of-school children in Damboa Local Government Area, warning that the trend could widen existing inequalities if not urgently addressed.
Kabu called on traditional and community leaders to intensify awareness campaigns on the value of education, saying their influence is critical in persuading families to send their children particularly girls back to school.
Kaumi Wakil, head of the Grassroot Initiative for Strengthening Community Resilience (GISCOR), praised ZEGCAWIS for its “tireless efforts” to improve education in conflict-affected communities, while Dr. Bulama Abiso, chairman of the Network for Civil Society Organizations, commended the organisers for fostering community engagement.
The meeting, convened in partnership with the Borno State Ministry of Education and funded by the Malala Fund, was held under the theme “Inspiring Girls, Inspiring Communities.”
It also aligned with global activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Participants said insecurity, displacement and economic hardship continue to undermine school enrollment and retention, and called for sustained investment in education across the region.
