JUST IN: Borno State Gives Scholarships to 50 BokoHaram Orphans

No fewer than 50 children orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgence have been ‎awarded scholarships in commemoration of the 50th birthday of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State.

Shettima’s Special Adviser on Communication, Isa Gusau, announced this at a ceremony marking the governor’s birthday in Maiduguri on Monday. According to him, the scholarship will be funded from donations made by Shettima’s associates at a birthday reception held in honour of the governor. “The award was sponsored by a group of 30 friends and political associates of Shettima,” he said. The statement added: “Two schools, the Maiduguri Capital School and Bara’Imul Iman Integrated School, both in Maiduguri, were selected for the programme. “The schools have been contacted to provide books, uniforms and bags to the orphans from September 2016 to 2022 when those admitted into primary schools are expected to graduate.” Gusau said the schools had been paid upfront to avoid interruption in the children’s education. He added that the children were drawn from different faiths and tribes across the 27 local government areas of the state. “A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between a representative of the sponsors and the schools’ authorities to ensure full implementation of the scholarship.”