BY: MUSA IDRIS UMAR, MARCH 03, 2026/ 11:27PM
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno has empowered 2,970 young people affected by insurgency in Borno State with vocational starter packs worth over N2 billion.
The beneficiaries completed intensive skills training designed to help them rebuild their lives after years of conflict and economic hardship.
The empowerment ceremony was held at Muna Vocational Enterprises Institute in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
Gov. Zulum distributed business kits valued at N2,050,000,000 to enable the graduates establish small enterprises and become self-employed.
The beneficiaries were drawn from nine modern vocational training institutes across the state.
Many of them are youths whose education and livelihoods were disrupted by more than a decade of insurgency.
Addressing the gathering, Gov. Zulum said youth empowerment and protection of vulnerable residents remain central to his administration’s agenda.
He said the insurgency destroyed livelihoods, increased unemployment and left many young people exposed to uncertainty.
He said the government introduced structured vocational training to restore dignity and rebuild productive capacity among affected communities.
Since 2019, the administration established five vocational enterprise institutes in Muna, Mafa, Biu, Shani and Magumeri.
The state also reactivated nine vocational training centers and three second chance skills entrepreneurship schools for women and girls.
The governor said over N40 billion has been invested in building, rehabilitating and equipping vocational institutes and technical colleges across the state.
He said the investment is aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school youths and promoting self-reliance through Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
The commissioner for education, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, said the initiative was designed to equip conflict-affected youths, women and vulnerable residents with practical and entrepreneurial skills.
He said the program reflects the governor’s broader plan to restore livelihoods and strengthen economic stability in communities impacted by violence.