BY ABDULKADIR M. LAWAN, OCTOBER 11, 2026 | 07:56 PM
No fewer than 6,000 girls in Borno State are set to benefit from scholarships pledged by the Dangote Foundation, in a major boost to girl-child education for families affected by displacement.
The scholarship pledge, which will run over the next six years, was announced alongside the allocation of N366 million worth of shares by the Dangote Group for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and returnees in the state.
The twin interventions formed part of the major outcomes of the two-day Borno State Durable Solutions to Internal Displacement Private Sector Roundtable held in Lagos on 8th and 9th October, 2026.
The roundtable, which convened over 20 private sector actors across banking and finance, telecommunications, trade and commerce, impact investment, infrastructure, housing and philanthropy, was aimed at mobilizing private capital for the recovery and economic inclusion of IDPs, returnees and host communities.
In total, Borno State secured nine investment commitments at the forum.
According to a statement by the special adviser to the governor on media, Dauda Iliya, six companies signed letters of commitment on the first day, with three more signing on the second day.
Other participating organisations took commitment forms for further consultations.
The commitments are expected to expand private sector participation in Borno’s recovery through investments that support livelihoods, access to basic services and economic inclusion of displacement-affected populations.
The forum also recorded immediate ease-of-doing-business wins, with two investors receiving land allocation approvals on the first day, while Airtel secured right-of-way approval to erect telecommunications towers to expand connectivity across the state.
To fast-track implementation, the investment pipeline will be organized by sector and aligned with the Borno State 25-Year Development Plan.
The state government assured investors of land for industries within two weeks and residential plots within 24 hours, alongside waivers and incentives, an investor-friendly business environment, an industrial hub, an international dry port and access to international markets.
To translate pledges into concrete projects, the Borno State Government, GIZ and, where necessary, Dyna-vest will establish an Investment Facilitation Support Group to follow up on commitments, with quarterly monitoring and reporting to track implementation and address challenges.
The roundtable was also attended by representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
It ended with a renewed focus on sustained engagement to turn investment interests into practical opportunities for IDPs, returnees and host communities in Borno State.