Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has announced plans to construct two additional community secondary schools in Biu Local Government Area as part of efforts to expand access to free and quality education across the state.
The governor made the announcement during his inspection tour of education and healthcare facilities in southern Borno, where he visited several institutions including Government Senior Science Secondary School, Government Secondary School Waka, Government Girls Secondary School Biu, Nigerian Army University, the new General Hospital and the 100 Housing Estate.
Zulum also designated Government Girls Secondary School Biu as one of the eight Centres of Excellence established by his administration to encourage academic growth, unity and collaboration among students from different parts of the state.
He explained that the rising population of Biu has created the need for more schools to accommodate students at both junior and senior secondary levels.
According to the governor, construction of the proposed Community Boys Day Secondary School and Community Girls Day Secondary School will begin immediately and will be completed before the end of his tenure.
He added that the Centres of Excellence initiative would revive the student exchange programme, allowing students from northern and central Borno to study together in selected schools as a way of promoting unity and strengthening social bonds among residents.
While addressing female students at Government Girls Secondary School Biu, Zulum encouraged them to uphold moral values and remain committed to the teachings of their respective religions.
The governor also announced the donation of food supplies, including rice, beans and cooking oil, to support students’ feeding, while promising to provide an additional borehole for the school kitchen and repair the existing one.
During his visit to Nigerian Army University, Zulum inspected newly constructed staff quarters and pledged continued government support for the establishment of a College of Medical Sciences at the institution to create more opportunities for Borno students interested in medical education.
He also inspected the ongoing construction of a 150-bed General Hospital in Biu, revealing that the facility would be upgraded into a specialist hospital upon completion and expanded to serve communities across southern Borno.
The governor said the hospital upgrade would support healthcare needs linked to the proposed medical college and improve access to specialised treatment in the region.
Zulum further announced automatic employment for 17 volunteer nurses working at the General Hospital and assured that additional healthcare workers would be recruited to strengthen medical services in the area.
